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What are VOCs?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.

The Amount of Volatile Organic Chemicals Released by Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide and Stabilized Hydrogen Peroxide Products, a Quaternary Ammonium Compound, and a Phenolic Compound.

Neither Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide nor Stabilized Hydrogen Peroxide formulations contain any detectable VOC's. In contrast, a quaternary ammonium- and a phenolic-based compound released significant amounts of VOC's. VOC's can adversely affect indoor air quality, and the inhalation of air containing such compounds released by cleaning and disinfecting agents has been associated with allergies and occupational asthma (5).

Product VOC in Headspace
7% accelerated hydrogen peroxide product (Concentrated) Below detectable limits
Quaternary Ammonium Compound (Concentrated) 350 mg/m3 toluene equivalents
Quaternary Ammonium Compound (Diluted) 9.89 mg/m3 toluene equivalents
Phenolic Compound (Concentrated) 6000 mg/m3 toluene equivalents

Learn more about VOCs and how they adversely affect human health and the environment by clicking on this link.

Toxicity Tests:

Accelerated and Stabilized Hydrogen Peroxide formulations are proven to be relatively non-toxic as evidenced by the fact that they are non-corrosive and non-irritating to the skin and eyes at use dilutions, and are only mildly corrosive in the concentrated form.

It has also been determined that a 0.1% solution of a quaternary ammonium compound is the maximum concentration that would not produce a primary irritation on intact skin or act as a sensitizer (4).

The Skin and Eye Irritation and Corrosiveness and Acute Oral Toxicity of Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide Virox at 0.5%, Quaternary Ammonium Compounds and Phenolics.

Product Acute Eye Irritation Acute Dermal Irritation Skin Sensitization Acute Oral Toxicity Acute Dermal Toxicity Acute Inhalation Toxicity
0.5% Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide Non-Irritating Non-Irritating Non-Sensitizer Does not present an acute toxic risk if swallowed Practically non toxic Does not present an acute toxic risk if inhaled
Quaternary ammonium compounds Non to Mildly Irritating Non to Moderately Irritating        
Chlorine Compounds (concentrate) Corrosive Corrosive (5)        

Literature Cited

  1. Rochon M. Why Hydrogen Peroxide? New World Health 1998/9: 18.
  2. Sattar SA, Springthorpe VS and Rochon M. Products Based on Accelerated and Stabilized Hydrogen Peroxide: Evidence for Broad-Spectrum Germicidal Activity. Canadian Journal of Infection Control 1998; 13(4):123-130.
  3. Dychdala GR. Chlorine and Chlorine Compounds. In: Block, S. S. eds. Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation, 4th edn. Pennsylvania: Lea & Febiger, 1991:131-151.
  4. Merianos JJ. Quaternary Ammonium Antimicrobial Compounds. In: Block, S. S. eds. Disinfection, Sterilization, and Preservation, 4th edn. Pennsylvania: Lea & Febiger, 1991:225-262.
  5. Wolkoff P, Schneider T, Kildeso J, Degerth R, Jaroszewski M, and Schunk H. Risk in Cleaning: Chemical and Physical Exposure. The Science of the Total Environment. 1998; 215:135-156.