Volatile organic compound
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Description
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are organic chemical compounds whose composition makes it possible for them to evaporate under normal indoor atmospheric conditions of temperature and pressure. These hydrocarbon gases are a major class of pollutant. They can be generated by combustion engines, paints and printing inks, gasoline pumps, cleaning solvents, chemical or metallurgical processes. In a major city, solvent fumes can average 500 tons per day.
Synonyms and Related Terms
VOC
Resources and Citations
- P.Hatchfield, Pollutants in the Museum Environment, Archetype Press, London, 2002.
- EPA: Volatile Organic Compounds