Volatile organic compounds (VOC's) are harmful gases which are emitted from certain solids or liquids. Most VOC's include a wide array of chemicals, of which some may cause short or long-term health effects on the human body. Most VOC meters are commonly used to measure the amount of these volatile organic compounds which can be found within confined areas (usually VOC's are found in a much higher concentration indoors than outdoors) such as the home, office, or place of business.

Some of the earliest VOC meters were extremely large and not intended for general consumer use. The first VOC meters were primarily used in large industrial spaces to control or determined the VOC levels within the workplace. With advanced technology most VOC meters today can now be portable, and even hand-held VOC meters can accurately determine indoor air quality conditions. 

VOC meters can determine if an unsafe amount of VOC's are polluting the indoor air quality of your home or business. Some of the most common VOC meters will test for a number of different chemicals which can be emitted from a vast majority of today's household products such as: paints, cleaning products, cosmetics, markers, adhesives, even office equipment and furnishings contain many VOC's. Most of these products can release chemicals such as VOC's which can make you sick, or possibly cause long term health problems.

Extech Portable Indoor Air Quality CO2 Meter