The Green Solvents Show #011
Businesses are becoming increasingly concerned about the damaging effect on worker health and safety and the environment caused by VOC’s contained in solvents. Solvents are used in a wide range of manufacturing processes and are the largest source of VOC emissions. VOC’s are the prime ingredient in the formation of ground-level ozone and smog.

Invest 20 minutes to listen to The Green Solvents Show and learn more about environmentally-friendly solvents for the workplace. Host Erik Reynolds interviews Dave Pasin, co-founder and President of TBF Environmental, about Volatile Organic Compounds and their environmental impact.
What Is A VOC?
Dave begins the episode by providing a brief description of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). A VOC is a chemical which reacts with other chemicals in the presence of sunlight to create ground-level ozone and smog. Industrial solvents used in many manufacturing and cleaning processes are the biggest contributor to the emission of VOC’s to the atmosphere.
Solvents Are Everywhere
Millions of workers come into contact with solvents every day. Solvents are contained in the following common products:

Paint
Food
Clothes
Gasoline
Computers

People are not aware that many products release harmful VOCs. The pleasant smells released by air fresheners and odour control products are actually volatile organic compounds. However, Dave indicates that not all VOC’s are pollutants.
The Growing Problem
Smog or brown haze is an increasing problem around the world. China has specific problems with smog within its major cities. Governments are now attempting to regulate the VOCs used within products. VOCs differ widely in their ability to react to create ozone and smog within geographic areas. Unfortunately, most strategies don’t consider the differing reactivity of the solvents and can therefore be ineffective.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies VOCs as either “exempt” or “not exempt”. Exempt VOCs have negligible reactivity and are not regulated. VOCs not on the exempt list have limitations on the quantities that can be incorporated into various industrial and consumer products. Recently the EPA has added numerous compounds to the non-exempt VOC list. Many of these are still commonly used in many products.

There are also health concerns which are not related to reactivity. Some products with negligible photochemical reactivities can cause cancer, alter genes or contribute to other health concerns.

During the podcast, Dave will answer the following questions:

What major health concerns can VOCs have on people?
What affects can VOCs have on the environment and our economy?
Why is the reduction in VOCs so important?
How are VOCs measured?
How TBF Environmental provides better products to reduce VOCs?

Environmentally Friendly Solvents are Available
Learn more about the damage VOC’s can cause to human health. Listen to Dave Pasin in this podcast and then come back and give us your thoughts.

TBF Environmental Technology (TBF) manufactures solvents designed to meet and / or exceed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State VOC emission requirements.

These products utilize innovative chemical formulations which are as effective as conventional toxic solvents, but with much less damage to human health and the environment.

Listen to Dave Pasin in this podcast to learn the results of the comparison. Then come back and give us your feedback.