Air Quality Meter

What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are airborne gaseous or vaporous substances of organic origin. Examples of VOCs include hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes and organic chemicals.

Where do VOCs come from?
Many detergents, solvents, paints, varnishes, adhesives and other synthetically manufactured substances can produce VOCs. In addition, numerous naturally occurring organic compounds formed by biological processes such as plant metabolism, decay and degradation can create VOCs.

How do VOCs get into the air?
VOCs can become airborne through evaporation or emission. Evaporation sources can include household cleaning products, construction and building materials, and indoor furnishings, flooring and decor. Emission sources can include traffic exhaust, tobacco and cigarette smoke and industrial pollution. Cigarette smoke particles mainly are distributed in the size range from 0.1 to 1.0 micron. Even food preparation and human metabolism can be sources for airborne VOCs.

Less obvious is the proliferation of various impurities not firmly embedded in products. These impurities can be slowly released from the product's surface into the air. This applies, for example, to residual solvents in plastics (monomers), auxiliaries such as plasticizers, solubilizers, antioxidants, stabilizers and catalysts used in the production process, as well as by-products such as fragrances, flame retardants and biocidal agents. VOCs called terpenes can be released from materials of natural origin, like wood. VOCs also can be formed during reactions between oxygen, ozone or water with natural ingredients in wood and vegetable oils.

What are the health effects of VOCs?
Usually, indoor VOC concentrations are low and present little risk to human health or safety. However, prolonged or excessive exposure to VOCs can lead to adverse health effects including headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, liver and kidney damage, and cancer. Occupants worried about the presence of VOCs in homes, schools and businesses should seek advice from IAQ experts such as industrial hygienists and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals.

How can indoor VOC concentrations be reduced?
Consumers should choose low-emission products and materials. Environmentally friendly labeling such as the Blue Angel is a helpful purchasing aid. Construction materials successfully tested according to the AgBB scheme with a recognized Ecolabel provide assurance that the potential for VOC emissions is minimized. Regular testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) of HVAC systems should be performed to alleviate VOC concentration through proper ventilation.

Should you require assistance in selecting an air quality meter product, please don’t hesitate to contact the PCE technical support staff at or +44 (0) 2380 987 035 for PCE Instruments UK, or at or +1 (561) 320-9162 for PCE Americas Inc.

Air pollution is an issue of growing concern to more and more people. The presence of certain substances can cause discomfort, allergies and even worse, be a health hazard. Among different pollutants, there are carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ozone, as well as suspended particles PM2.5 and PM10. The authorities usually measure these parameters mainly in the areas of large agglomerations, such as cities. However, it is also possible to measure some of these concentrations or substances indoors using a weather station that detects, in addition to the ambient temperature and humidity, some additional parameters.

For example, a too high concentration of carbon dioxide influences people's well-being. The concentration of CO2 has been increasing because of the pollution and currently the average value exceeds 400 ppm outdoors, although it is obviously higher in the places with a lot of pollution. At the same time, indoors this value can increase significantly and in a short time. It is true that only a very high concentration is harmful to health. However, if a closed room with people in it is not regularly ventilated, the CO2 concentration increases, and will cause, among other things, the lack of concentration, headaches and drowsiness. The weather station with carbon dioxide measurement will indicate when a certain level has been reached and thus, the ventilation of the indoor space is required.

There are other health-damaging parameters found indoors, such as the presence of formaldehyde that can be measured by certain weather stations. Formaldehyde is a gas that is flammable at the room temperature, colourless and with a characteristic pungent smell. It is a material used in the manufacture of materials and many household products, that’s why it is often present in homes. The exposure to the levels exceeding 0.1 ppm is harmful to health, as it can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose and throat.

Another parameter to take into account is suspended particles. These are usually classified as PM 2.5 and PM 10. This abbreviation refers to the thickness of the particle. PM10 indicates that the particle has a diameter of 10 µm or less, and PM 2.5 has a diameter of 2.5 µm or less (1 µm [micrometer] is one thousandth of a millimeter). Particles are differentiated not only by size but also by their origin. For example, diesel vehicles emit PM 2.5 particles. PM 2.5 particles have a more harmful effect on health than PM 10, as they penetrate and settle in the lungs. They can even reach the bloodstream. In our product range we offer the weather stations, such as the PCE-RCM 12 station, that measure the concentration of these particles and other harmful substances.