Cars make a lot of VOCs.
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Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)

Volatile Organic Compounds are also called VOCs. They contain carbon and are a gas at room temperature.. There are many types of VOCs. Hydrocarbons have both hydrogen and carbon atoms. Oxygenates contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

VOCs are in car exhaust and cigarette smoke. VOCs come from many other things, like paint, paint stripper, and cleaning supplies. Even things like craft materials such as glue and markers make VOCs.

Some VOCs are very dangerous. They can cause leukemia and other cancers. When VOCs are in the air react with ultraviolet light, and nitrogen oxides they can turn into tropospheric ozone.

Last modified January 30, 2006 by Dennis Ward.

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