Editing Volatile organic compound (section)

==Definitions==
Diverse definitions of the term VOC are in use. Some examples are presented below.

===Canada===
[[Health Canada]] classifies VOCs as organic compounds that have boiling points roughly in the range of {{Cvt|50|to|250|C}}. The emphasis is placed on commonly encountered VOCs that would have an effect on air quality.<ref>[http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/air/office_building-immeubles_bureaux/organic-organiques-eng.php Health Canada] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207142918/http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/air/office_building-immeubles_bureaux/organic-organiques-eng.php |date=February 7, 2009 }} <!-- retrieved January 22, 2009 --></ref>

===European Union===
The [[European Union]] defines a VOC as "any organic compound as well as the fraction of [[creosote]], having at 293.15 K a vapour pressure of 0.01 kPa or more, or having a corresponding volatility under the particular conditions of use;".<ref>[[Industrial Emissions Directive]], article 3(45).</ref> The VOC [[Solvent]]s Emissions Directive was the main policy instrument for the reduction of industrial emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the European Union. It covers a wide range of solvent-using activities, e.g. printing, surface cleaning, vehicle coating, dry cleaning and manufacture of footwear and pharmaceutical products. The VOC Solvents Emissions Directive requires installations in which such activities are applied to comply either with the emission limit values set out in the Directive or with the requirements of the so-called reduction scheme. Article 13 of The Paints Directive, approved in 2004, amended the original VOC Solvents Emissions Directive and limits the use of organic solvents in decorative paints and varnishes and in vehicle finishing products. The Paints Directive sets out maximum VOC content limit values for paints and varnishes in certain applications.<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/air/stationary/solvents/legislation.htm The VOC solvent emission directive] ''EUR-Lex'', European Union Publications Office. Retrieved on 2010-09-28.</ref><ref>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32004L0042 The Paints Directive] ''EUR-Lex'', European Union Publications Office.</ref> The Solvents Emissions Directive was replaced by the [[Industrial Emissions Directive]] from 2013.

===China===
The [[People's Republic of China]] defines a VOC as those compounds that have "originated from automobiles, industrial production and civilian use, burning of all types of fuels, storage and transportation of oils, fitment finish, coating for furniture and machines, cooking oil fume and fine particles (PM 2.5)", and similar sources.<ref>eBeijing.gov.cn</ref> The Three-Year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky Defence War released by the State Council in July 2018 creates an action plan to reduce 2015 VOC emissions 10% by 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2018-07/03/content_5303158.htm|title=国务院关于印发打赢蓝天保卫战三年行动计划的通知(国发〔2018〕22号)_政府信息公开专栏|website=gov.cn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190309213632/http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2018-07/03/content_5303158.htm |archive-date=2019-03-09 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===India===
The [[Central Pollution Control Board]] of India released the [[Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act]] in 1981, amended in 1987, to address concerns about [[air pollution in India]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://cpcb.nic.in/displaypdf.php?id=aG9tZS9haXItcG9sbHV0aW9uL05vLTE0LTE5ODEucGRm | title=THE AIR (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION) ACT, 1981}}</ref> While the document does not differentiate between VOCs and other air pollutants, the CPCB monitors "oxides of nitrogen (NO<sub>x</sub>), sulphur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>), fine particulate matter (PM10) and suspended particulate matter (SPM)".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cleanairindiamovement.com/|title=Air Pollution in IndiaClean Air India Movement|website=Clean Air India Movement}}</ref>

===United States===
[[File:Thermal-oxidizer-rto.jpg|thumb|[[Thermal oxidiser|Thermal oxidizers]] provide an air pollution abatement option for VOCs from industrial air flows.<ref>EPA. [https://www3.epa.gov/ttnchie1/mkb/documents/fthermal.pdf "Air Pollution Control Technology Fact Sheet: Thermal Incinerator."] EPA-452/F-03-022.</ref> A thermal oxidizer is an EPA-approved device to treat VOCs.]]

The definitions of VOCs used for control of precursors of [[photochemical smog]] used by the [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) and state agencies in the US with independent outdoor air pollution regulations include exemptions for VOCs that are determined to be non-reactive, or of low-reactivity in the smog formation process. Prominent is the VOC regulation issued by the [[South Coast Air Quality Management District]] in California and by the [[California Air Resources Board]] (CARB).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurofins.com/carb-consumer-products-voc.aspx |title=CARB regulations on VOC in consumer products |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2016-08-19 |website=Consumer Product Testing |publisher=Eurofins Scientific}}</ref> However, this specific use of the term VOCs can be misleading, especially when applied to [[indoor air quality]] because many chemicals that are not regulated as outdoor air pollution can still be important for indoor air pollution.

Following a public hearing in September 1995, California's ARB uses the term "reactive organic gases" (ROG) to measure organic gases. The CARB revised the definition of "Volatile Organic Compounds" used in their consumer products regulations, based on the committee's findings.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.arb.ca.gov/ei/speciate/voc_rog_dfn_11_04.pdf |title=Definitions of VOC and ROG |date=November 2004 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=California Air Resources Board |location=Sacramento, CA}}</ref>

In addition to [[drinking water]], VOCs are regulated in pollutant discharges to surface waters (both directly and via sewage treatment plants)<ref>For example, discharges from chemical and plastics manufacturing plants: {{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/eg/organic-chemicals-plastics-and-synthetic-fibers-effluent-guidelines |title=Organic Chemicals, Plastics and Synthetic Fibers Effluent Guidelines |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2016-02-01 |publisher=EPA}}</ref> as hazardous waste,<ref>Under the [[CERCLA]] ("Superfund") law and the [[Resource Conservation and Recovery Act]].</ref> but not in non-industrial indoor air.<ref name="EPA-indoor-VOC">{{cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality |title=Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality |publisher=EPA |date=2016-09-07}}</ref> The [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration]] (OSHA) regulates VOC exposure in the workplace. Volatile organic compounds that are classified as [[hazardous material]]s are regulated by the [[Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration]] while being transported.