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What does VOC stand for?

  1. Variable Overdrive Chassis

  2. Volatile organic compounds

  3. Vaporous organic chemicals

  4. Volatile ozone cleaners

The correct answer is: Volatile organic compounds

Volatile organic compounds, commonly abbreviated as VOCs, refer to a large group of organic chemicals that have high vapor pressure at room temperature. This characteristic allows them to evaporate or sublimate into the air easily, contributing to indoor air pollution and often impacting both environmental and human health. VOCs are found in a variety of products, such as paints, varnishes, cleaning supplies, and pesticides, which release these compounds during their use and even when they are stored. Understanding what VOCs are is crucial in the field of indoor air quality because they can result in numerous health issues, including headaches, dizziness, respiratory problems, and other long-term effects. Identifying and controlling the sources of VOCs can lead to improved air quality in indoor environments. The other choices do not accurately reflect the definition of VOCs, reinforcing the understanding of why "volatile organic compounds" is the correct meaning.