VOC (volatile organic compounds)

If we ask the question "Why treat volatile organic compounds in the air?", two types of argument can be developed, depending on the sensitivity, obligations and/or constraints of each individual.

Initially, if we take a global approach, the impact on human health and the environment, ecosystems, the greenhouse effect and global warming, the uncontrolled production of ozone in cities... are all good reasons for drastically limiting VOC emissions, either at source through a "clean processes" approach, or at emission through curative processes. The international community has mobilized, with varying degrees of determination, as evidenced by the events of the New York conference in 1997, to combat the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions through the convention signed in Rio in June 1992. In 2015, the COP21 (21st Conference of the Parties) held in Paris until COP27 (Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt) in 2022 will enable discussion between States and the setting of targets for the reduction of pollutants emitted into the air.

Secondly, the discussion can be placed on a regulatory level. Under the Geneva Protocol of 1991 and the Gothenburg Protocol of 1999, amended several times thereafter, on the limitation of VOC emissions and their transboundary flows, the European Union, through its directives, and France in particular, through its decrees, have undertaken to significantly reduce emissions (see § 4 ).

These few points attempt to demonstrate the need to reduce volatile organic compounds. This article will therefore focus on "end-of-line" emission treatment processes, with some information on ventilation and containment methods. However, definitions, sources, impacts and analysis methods will also be discussed, to give a more global view of VOCs in the environment.

For further information on volatile organic compounds in the environment, please refer to and