Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are contained within many of the products and items we are surrounded by day to day, and are carbon-based chemicals which evaporate at room temperature. The list of products which contain VOCs is extensive, but among some of the most common household items to contain these potentially harmful chemicals are carpet adhesives, paints, upholstery fabrics, air fresheners, disinfectants and cosmetics. With so many household products containing VOCs, the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risk estimates that there are up to 900 chemicals in the indoor air we breathe. Staggeringly, that means that the air in our homes may in fact be up to 70% more polluted than the air outside, with airborne irritants significantly impacting our overall health and physical wellbeing.

Most home owners don’t think about the quality of air in their home. While pollution from traffic and high pollen counts is often in the news, the fact that the air in your home can be just as bad for your health and wellbeing isn't as widely reported. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is defined as the absence of air pollutants which could affect the comfort or health of the building residents. Nowadays, we spend a lot of time insulating our homes - adding cavity wall insulation, double glazing and loft insulation to make them more energy-efficient and to save on our utility bills.

It's that time of year again, when the weather’s gorgeous and you’d love to be out in it and having fun, but the wheezes and the sneezes and the irritation of hay fever hit, and can easily ruin your summer. EnviroVent gives their top tips to reduce hay fever effects for you this summer.

The air in our homes can be more polluted than the air outdoor so it is important to check the indoor air and take measures to improve it.

We’ve all done it. If it’s cold, if your neighbour’s doing some noisy DIY, or there’s a funny smell in the air, you shut your windows. Keep that nice, clean air in your house, and the nasties of the outside world away from your home. The problem with that is that with the super efficient double glazing and doors we have these days, you’re trapping all manner of things inside your house, turning it into a sealed box of potentially harmful elements. What can you do to keep your home’s air quality as good as it can be, even with the windows shut?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are compounds that easily become vapours or gases. VOCs are released from burning fuel such as gasoline, wood, coal, or natural gas. They are also released from many consumer products: Cigarettes. Solvents. If you have asthma or another respiratory condition, young children, or an elderly person in the house, you should find out about Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These are the groups of people who are potentially susceptible to the effects of VOCs in the home.

More than 15 million homes are affected by Toxic Building Syndrome in the UK alone, so what is it, how does it affect you and what can you do about it? Essentially Toxic Building Syndrome is where the air quality in your home or office is so bad that it can affect the health of those inside. You see you might think you’re breathing clean air, but in fact the air inside your home can have more than 900 harmful chemicals and organisms in it, which you simply cannot see. Everything from carbon monoxide to mould spores can form part of TBS and they all have their own, hugely detrimental, effects on your health.

Up to 35% of all people throughout the world experience allergies at some point in their life, and this number is on the increase. At first, allergies only seemed to be increasing in developed countries such as the UK and USA but as more and more countries around the world become more industrially developed, they too are seeing an increase in the rate of allergies.

Earlier this month, we caught up with Rebecca McLean, EnviroVent's Marketing Director who is leading the way when it comes to making people aware of the importance of indoor air quality and shared her top tips for improving the air quality in your home.

Around 5.4 million people in the UK suffer from asthma; this means that 1 in 5 households are affected by this. Whilst we do not know for certain what the main cause of asthma is, we can identify its triggers and do what we can when someone who suffers from asthma has an attack.

It is not something you really sit down and think about but good indoor air quality is vital to a healthy home, and in some cases, a lifeline for the occupant’s wellbeing. Poor indoor air quality can lead to numerous allergies in particular, asthma and dust mite related allergies.

Believe it or not, there are up to 900 chemicals in indoor air. Not only this, but according to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is found to be up to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air.