Table of Contents
Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) and Drinking Water
A technical paper by Olympian Water Testing specialists
Volatile Organic Chemicals and Drinking Water
They are volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) which transform to gases and vapor in normal air as they have extremely low boiling points and therefore are volatile [1]. They are volatile because they can freeze to gas. They’re everywhere: in your kitchen cabinets, in paint thinners, in spray bags. Hence they can enter the water system by spill or insufficient management, so extra attention must be paid.
Here we’ll inform you about VOCs water pollution, how does it impact your health, what you can do to prevent it and decontaminate water.
Where can VOCs be found?
VOCs also occur in the air, products of our homes, cleaners, pesticides, spray adhesives, solvents, paints, glue, inks and fuel [2]. Petroleum-based fuels, hydraulic oils, paint lubricants, dry-cleaning products are all full of VOCs [1]. You’ll know VOC is in something because you’ll be able to smell it after removing the cap.
Remember that VOCs can be found in any item in your home and all should be screened very closely for potential contaminants.
How are VOCs infiltrated into the water?
VOCs enter water mostly through human activity. if you don’t properly dispose volatile organic chemicals then your water can be infected [2]. They then soak into the earth and begin polluting the water. They travel to lakes and wells, when they get in the groundwater, and the rain flows them into other water sources, raising the contamination rate [3]. VOCs are produced in chemistry during water treatment, too. A water contaminated with a lot of VOCs has one or three pollutants. The degree of contamination therefore is important in selecting the treatment.
Common waterborne VOCs
Perchloroethylene (PCE): This is a byproduct of solvents, mainly used in dry cleaning, and is present in shoe polish and inks [4].
Trihalomethane: This is the most popular VOC present in water and results from water disinfection. Initially, municipal water treatment plants normally use chlorine to treat water distributed to communities. Water supply with VOCs gets in contact with chlorine, creating Trihalomethane [5]. Owing to the popularity of this water treatment option, Trihalomethane is a significant byproduct of VOCs.
Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE): This is a fuel additive used in place of lead. Following the decision to stop using lead in gasoline, MTBE was adopted to increase octane in gas [6]. It started appearing in water sources after widespread use and contaminates water. By 2006, most US states had established laws banning or restricting the usage of MTBE in gasoline due to water supply contamination [7]. It had been anticipated that the expense of cleaning up water sources would run into billions of dollars. Thus, hundreds of lawsuits had been launched to make petroleum refiners and marketers pay for it. Following the widespread ban, a study measuring MTBE in blood found a significant decrease in MTBE blood levels and higher levels were associated with the residential area in states with the most recent ban [7].
What are the risks of being exposed to VOCs?
High levels of VOCs are mostly present in groundwater than in city water. Nevertheless, this does not mean that city water does not contain VOCs, only that the level is lower.
City water suppliers are expected to check the levels of VOCs in the water they supply to residents and are supposed to take action to lower the levels of contaminants if they rise above the recommended levels set Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The EPA recommended levels, measured in parts per billion (ppb), for the most common VOCs in water are 5 ppb for benzene, dichloromethane, trichloroethylene, PCE, 20 ppb for Toluene, and 100 ppb for 1,1,1-trichloroethane [3].
It is crucial to test your water regularly to ensure that VOC levels are within the recommended limits, especially in privately owned wells. Many people make a significant mistake in assuming that healthy water is safe from contamination. The constituents of individual VOCs determine health risks because each can cause different symptoms, illnesses, or health complications.
A study conducted in Northeastern British Columbia, Canada, found that intense unconventional natural gas exploitation and well proximity were associated with higher exposure to VOCs [8]
Testing for VOCs in water?
Doing periodic tests is the best way to know whether VOC levels are too high or fall within the guidelines because waterborne VOCs does not have detectable smell or taste, making it easy to miss if you do not do periodic tests. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you test your water for contaminants every year if you use a well [10]. While city water tends to have low levels of VOCs, which is not harmful, this does not mean you stop testing entirely. Instead, running periodic tests helps you maintain the right quantity of VOC in water. You should also do regular tests if you use wells in your home. Research has indicated that the indoor concentrations of VOCs are typically 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor. Following some activities like painting, the indoor VOC levels may go as high as 1,000 times the outdoor levels [11].
Can you buy treatment devices to remove VOCs from water?
You can buy home treatment devices to remove VOCs if you are worried about high levels.
Is VOCs Harmful?
Yes. Exposure to high levels of VOCs is harmful to your health. However, it is hard to quantify the harm of waterborne VOCs because there are different types and each type results in particular health effects. Moreover, no extensive study has been done to understand health problems caused by household items that contain VOCs.
The EPA outlines possible effects of exposure to VOCs, including irritation of the throat, nose, and eyes, nausea, loss of coordination, and headaches [11]. Furthermore, long-term exposure was linked to a high risk of cancer, and liver, kidney and neural damage [2]. Therefore, ensure you investigate your water to check the levels of VOCs to prevent contaminants. A study conducted in South Korea found that VOCs had health effects, including cancer risks. This study reported that exposed participants were at significantly higher risks for respiratory, anaphylactic diseases and cardiovascular diseases than the controls [12].
Tips to reduce VOC exposure
The EPA recommends the following to minimize exposure to VOCs [11]
- Increase ventilation when using VOC-based products.
- Unused paints and similar products should be kept away.
- Reduce the need for pesticides by using pest management techniques
- Follow the manufacturer’s directions about the use and disposal
- Aerate enough when using products containing VOCs, and keep them out of reach of children and pets.
- Avoid mixing household products unless instructed by the manufacturer.
How can you remove VOCs from drinking water?
Since VOCs are carbon compounds, carbon filters are ideal for removing all their traces. It has absorption properties enabling it to catch VOCs. Carbon filters come in different sizes, applications, and shapes, making them ideal for different water systems [13]. You may prefer installing carbon filters under the sink to trap all impurities underneath and remove chloramines and chlorine since carbon filters can remove other contaminants. Alternatively, you can use a refrigerator filter that contains carbon to remove VOCs from your refrigerator water. If you have a point-of-use water filter, make sure it is marked for VOC reduction.
Does reverse osmosis remove VOCs?
Reverse osmosis cannot remove VOCs from water on its own. They can do so if they have carbon pre- or post-filters to facilitate the process. In this case, if VOCs manage to permeate the membrane, the carbon post-filter removes them.
Frequently asked questions
Is drinking water with VOC dangerous?
Yes, drinking water with high levels of VOC (identified with a VOC water test) poses a lot of harm to your health. EPA outlines the health effects of VOC in drinking water and reinstates the need for regular water tests. Some health effects include liver and kidney damage, headaches, and nerve damage [2]. VOC does not cause water discoloration or unpleasant taste and smell. Instead, the typical taste and appearance of water remain, making it hard to detect unless you run a series of tests.
Linking some of the symptoms with VOCs may be challenging unless a doctor examines you. Therefore, regular medical examinations helps diagnose illnesses before it is too late.
What are the safe levels of VOCs in water?
The EPA has outlined safe drinking water standards. The safe drinking standard for benzene is 5 ppb, methylene chlorine is 5 ppb, Toluene is 100 ppb, and Trichloroethylene (TCE) is 5 ppb [3].
How can you remove VOCs from water?
The quickest way to remove VOC from your water is to use a carbon filter system [13]. Because VOC is carbon-based, using a carbon filter is a practical thing to do. It catches the carbon-based VOC and removes it before it contaminates water. Moreover, you can put carbon filters in different places around the house to help you remove VOCs.
Is boiling water a good way of removing VOCs?
You cannot rely on boiling tap water to remove VOCs because it only works for specific types of VOCs. Additionally, boiling may create other problems, such as releasing VOC into the atmosphere and harming the environment. Hence, the correct method of removing VOCs is using a carbon filter.
Are bottled water safe from VOCs?
The safety of bottled water varies. Bottled water is regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which checks VOC levels.
Producers are expected to follow safety standards, and if they notice high levels of VOCs, they apply remedies to reduce VOC concentrations. Moreover, there are individual safety standards that people check when buying bottled water. Just because water is bottled does not mean that it is safe from VOCs. You must check the label and get more information from the manufacturer to ascertain that it does not have a high level of VOCs.
What can you do if the levels of VOCs in your water are above safety standards?
If the levels of VOCs in your well are above the safe drinking standards, you should not use them until it is treated. Because of the health effects, it is better to stop using the water immediately and seek an alternative. You can use bottled water as you work on removing VOC impurities. Test the levels of VOCs in your well before taking measures to treat it.
An excellent way to reduce VOC levels in the air is by ventilating indoor areas.
Is water from private wells safe from VOCs?
There is no guarantee that water from private wells is safe from VOCs. The only way to ascertain the safety of your water source is to have it tested in a certified laboratory. Moreover, wells are one of the common VOC sources that should be analyzed regularly.
By May 2022, the EPA estimated that 23 million households depended on private wells for water in the US [14]. Note that the EPA does not regulate privately owned wells, and owners are expected to assume the responsibility of testing their water. Therefore, ensure that all the water sources are properly tested to remove all traces of VOCs. Treating VOCs is cost-effective and takes a short time, unlike other treatment plans.
Is it safe to use your irrigation well if it is contaminated?
Using your contaminated irrigation well is safe if it follows EPA’s guidelines for safety. For example, you can use it to water gardens, lawns, and cars without health risks.
It has been shown that cold water releases fewer VOCs. However, ensure that you do not swallow the water accidentally because it contains high levels of VOCs.
VOC-contaminated water can also be used to fill pools or spas. However, please wait 30 minutes after filling the water before using it to avoid its effects. The pool should be open and not covered to allow some VOCs to escape into the atmosphere.
Supervise activities in the pool to ensure that children do not swallow the water accidentally. Using water with high levels of VOCs is not recommended to wash pets or utensils.
Takeaway
VOCs are chemicals that easily evaporate into gases when exposed to normal air. They pollute the environment, cause health complications and result in unnecessary expenses. Therefore, it is essential to test for VOCs regularly to remove them before they cause health problems.
You can remove VOCs by using carbon filters and avoid drinking the water until you remove the impurities. Have sampling performed to know whether water is within the proper limits. If your water has high VOC levels, consider using water filters to eradicate them.
References
- EPA: What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?
- MN Department of Health: Volatile Organic Compounds in Your Home.
- DHS: PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION: VOCs and well water: What you need to know.
- Ceballos, D.M., Fellows, K.M., Evans, A.E., Janulewicz, P.A., Lee, E.G., Whittaker, S.G.: Perchloroethylene and Dry Cleaning: It’s Time to Move the Industry to Safer Alternatives. Front. Public Health. 9, 638082 (2021).
- Hood, E.: Tap Water and Trihalomethanes: Flow of Concerns Continues. Environ Health Perspect. 113, (2005).
- Introduction to Environmental Forensics. Elsevier (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/C2012-0-01202-1.
- Silva, L.K., Espenship, M.F., Pine, B.N., Ashley, D.L., De Jesús, V.R., Blount, B.C.: Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether Exposure from Gasoline in the U.S. Population, NHANES 2001-2012. Environ Health Perspect. 127, 127003 (2019).
- Caron-Beaudoin, É., Whyte, K.P., Bouchard, M.F., Chevrier, J., Haddad, S., Copes, R., Frohlich, K.L., Dokkie, D., Juul, S., Bouchard, M., Verner, M.-A.: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air and tap water samples in residences of pregnant women living in an area of unconventional natural gas operations: Findings from the EXPERIVA study. Science of The Total Environment. 805, 150242 (2022).
- Woodard, J.: What are VOCs and How Do You Remove Them?,
- CDC: Well Testing.
- EPA: Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality.
- Shuai, J., Kim, S., Ryu, H., Park, J., Lee, C.K., Kim, G.-B., Ultra, V.U., Yang, W.: Health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds exposure near Daegu dyeing industrial complex in South Korea. BMC Public Health. 18, 528 (2018).
- Ecology Center: How Activated Carbon Filters Remove Volatile Organic Compounds from the Air?
- EPA: Private Drinking Water Wells. (2022).
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