P731 CEEFAX 731 Thu 4 Nov 21:11/41 1/3 I EFFECTS OF VOCS ON OUR ENVIRONMENT VOCs or volatile organic compounds are substances which evaporate at room temperature. VOCs can bj found in household items including paint solvents, carpets and chipboard furniture. They create noxious substances which are then emitted into the air, indoors and out. Environmentalists are now questioniong the link between the increase in asthma related illnesses and the increase of VOCs in the air. Next Page Read Hear CmntyInfo ReligionP731 CEEFAX 731 Thu 4 Nov 21:12/11 2/3 DANGERS OF VOCS IN THE ATMOSPHERE $5 Volatile organic compounds can also bj found in petrol - both leaded and unleaded. But the danger is when a catalytic converter is not working properly, unleaded petrol then becomes more damaging than leaded petrol. Unleaded petrol produces chemicals eaten by the catalytic converter but if it is not working, then the converter will produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PADs. And polycyclic aromatic hydro- carbons are known to cause cancer. Next Page Read Hear CmntyInfo ReligionP731 CEEFAX 731 Thu 4 Nov 21:17/51 3/3 THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES PRODUCE VOCS The dangers of unleaded petrol producing VOCs is apparent in the western world but some third would countries are unaware of the danker In many third world countries unleaded petrol is known as "green petrolb and people are using it without catalytic converters, therefore producing dangerous amounts of VOCs. A conference on Wednesday 28 October looked at the risks of volatile organic compounds and what people could do. p Read Hear 710 Community 720 Next Page Read Hear CmntyInfo Religion