7 Ways To Clear Your Home's Air Of PFAS, VOCs & Other Irritants

The average person breathes over 2,000 gallons of air daily—almost enough to fill a swimming pool, according to the American Lung Association. And unfortunately, you could be breathing in VOCs and PFAS with each inhale.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of organic chemicals that easily evaporate into the air at room temperature. According to the EPA, levels of VOCs indoors can be two to five times higher1 than outdoors on average.

These chemicals can be released by a wide variety of household products including paints and coatings, cleaners, vinyl flooring materials, carpets and rugs, and personal care products. Gas stoves and certain heating appliances can also emit VOCs during use. The more VOC-containing products we have, the higher our risk of potential side effects.

In the short term, VOC exposure can lead to symptoms like eye, nose, and throat irritation. VOCs can be particularly aggravating for those with chronic pulmonary diseases like asthma2.

Research suggests that chronic exposure to VOCs can lead to central nervous system and organ damage and potentially contribute to certain cancers3. As one study states, "...human tissues, including kidney, liver, leukemia, nasal cavity, paranasal sinus, liver and bile duct, could be more involved in the development of cancers or tumors when people are exposed to these VOCs through inhalation route in buildings over a long period of time."

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, represent a group of around 15,000 human-made chemicals. These compounds are used to make many products water- and grease-resistant and can be found in nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, food wrappers, stain-resistant carpeting and upholstery, and cosmetics. One notable trait of PFAS is their inability to break down in the environment, earning them the nickname "forever chemicals."

PFAS are so commonplace in our environment that one report5 found them in the blood of 97% of Americans. PFAS can be gases, liquids, or solids—and an estimated 45% of tap water in the U.S. tests positive for forever chemicals too.

Like VOCs, these airborne chemicals can turn into particulate matter through gas-particle partitioning. For example, PFAS in hair spray can attach to particles in the air. When this occurs in our homes, these particles will settle among our dust6. Then, when they are disturbed, they get redistributed into the air and enter our bodies through inhalation.

With so many types of PFAS in existence, scientists are still attempting to fully understand their health impacts. So far, PFAS exposure has been associated with high cholesterol levels7, changes in liver enzymes8, kidney and testicular cancer9, reduced immune response10, and hormone fluctuations11.

In December 2023, the EPA proposed national drinking standards limiting six types of PFAS in drinking water12. They stated that "The standards would set a national floor of protection for every person served by public water systems, regardless of their income or ZIP code. This rule, when finalized, will save thousands of lives and prevent tens of thousands of avoidable illnesses, including in small, rural, and disadvantaged communities."

A great way to reduce VOCs and PFAS in the air is to use air purifiers with carbon filtration. These will help absorb gases and contaminated particles in the solid state. To get the most bang for your buck, go with a unit that removes the maximum number of contaminants possible.

Counterintuitively, many common household cleaning products have harmful chemicals like VOCs and PFAS. To create healthier indoor air, ditch these products and switch to plant-based home cleaners.

Beauty products like skin care and feminine products13 can be known sources of VOCs—which can be absorbed by the skin, as well as inhaled. In fact, a Green Science Policy Institute study analyzed 231 popular makeup products in the U.S. and Canada and found "high fluorine levels—indicating the probable presence of PFAS—in just over half of these products. High levels were especially prevalent in waterproof mascara, liquid lipsticks, and foundations."