Today, regulations to limit emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air are being developed, but there is still much work to be done. So it’s up to you to take the initiative!

This test kit allows you to measure your daily exposure to pollutants in the VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) family, such as benzene, toluene, tetrachloroethylene, and others. These indoor and/or outdoor air pollutants are volatile at room temperature and can be harmful to health and the environment.

Whether of natural or human origin, VOCs come mainly from domestic or industrial activities, where they are used as solvents (cleaners and degreasers, household products, paints, inks, decorative materials, essential oils, etc.). The use of home heating systems (furnaces, fireplaces, tobacco smoke, etc.) and internal combustion engines (road transport), as well as any other combustion of organic materials (fires), is also responsible for the emission of certain VOCs, notably BTEX compounds.

Ubiquitous in homes, VOCs are now a major public health concern. Only laboratory analysis provides the sensitivity required to detect pollutants at levels corresponding to indoor air quality guidelines and to perform an accurate assessment of indoor air quality.

The laboratory’s Cofrac accreditation under the NF EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard is third-party recognition of our competence to perform the analyses included in our scope of accreditation (Test No. 1-10086, available at www.cofrac.fr). By choosing this analysis kit, you will receive two types of reports:

Do you notice a strange odor after buying new furniture or having renovations done? Do you think you’re exposed to fumes, traffic, or industrial activities? Are you experiencing respiratory issues (irritation, asthma, coughing, runny nose), or headaches and fatigue?

This kit will allow you to test for VOCs in your indoor air. Many VOCs have distinctive odors. If you notice unusual odors and/or experience respiratory irritation, especially inside your home, your indoor air may be contaminated with VOCs. Since we spend an average of 80 to 90% of our time indoors, air quality is essential for a healthy life.

There are many sources of VOC emissions within a home: paints, adhesives, solvents, smoke, candles, household products, and more. Some of these compounds are known to be harmful to health.

Please note: this test kit cannot measure the presence of aldehydes (compounds that also belong to the VOC family) because their chemical structure requires a different sensor for detection (see our Indoor Air Aldehydes Kit).

Also available in an “Aldehydes + VOCs” bundle with the Indoor Air DUO Kit.

If you operate a public building and wish to conduct measurements in accordance with the decree on indoor air quality, check out our Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Self-Assessment Kit for Public Buildings.

• BTEX: Benzene – Toluene – Ethylbenzene – Xylenes:
  - Benzene is a volatile aromatic hydrocarbon at room temperature resulting from the incomplete combustion of carbon-rich compounds. It comes mainly from industrial activities, vehicle traffic (exhaust fumes), the combustion of fossil fuels and organic materials (internal combustion engines, wood-burning heating, smoking, etc.). The presence of benzene in indoor air poses a health risk, as this pollutant is classified by the IARC as a Group 1 carcinogen.
  - Toluene is used as a solvent in paints, varnishes, inks, and adhesives, as well as in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and petroleum industries. It can cause nausea, stomachaches, vomiting, memory problems, fatigue, dizziness, or even heart problems.
  -Ethylbenzene is a benzene derivative. It can have harmful effects on the central nervous system and the lungs and is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the IARC (Group 2B).
  - Xylenes are also derivatives of benzene. There are three isomers (m-, o-, and p-xylene). Xylene is used in the printing, rubber, and leather industries and is among the products most heavily released into the environment by these industries.
• Perchloroethylene (or tetrachloroethylene): Perchloroethylene is a volatile solvent that does not occur naturally. It is widely used, primarily for dry cleaning fabrics, degreasing metals, and in printing. The presence of perchloroethylene in indoor air poses a health risk, as this pollutant is classified as a probable carcinogen by the IARC (Group 2A).

The molecules selected by Kudzu Science are all classified as priority pollutants by the Indoor Air Quality Observatory (OQAI) and are subject to the mandatory labeling requirements for construction and renovation materials implemented in 2012.

Aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated compounds, terpenes, alkanes, glycol ethers… discover all the analyzable compounds in the complete list below:

List of molecules based on the kit variant

Everything is included in your analysis kit:

• A single-use passive sampling device(G.A.B.I.E. VOC badge);
• Detailed instructions to guide you step by step through the process;
• A sampling form to help us interpret your results.
• A prepaid return envelope for sending your sample to the lab (from mainland France only).
• Analysis of your sampleusing chemical desorption and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.
• And a detailed analysis report interpreted according to reference values available in the literature.

VOC Kit Instructions

Your report will be available for direct download from the“My Kudzu Kit” sectionof our website within 10 business days after your sample is received at the laboratory. This turnaround time is reduced to 5 days if you select the “express” option.

You will receive a comprehensive, personalized, and interpreted analysis report with details of your results, precise and exhaustive information on the detected pollutants, and advice on how to improve indoor air quality in your living spaces. It is designed to quickly and easily show the pollution levels of each measured compound and to determine whether or not the measured concentrations pose a risk to your health.

Example of an interpreted analysis report (excerpt)