VOC is an acronym for Volatile Organic Compounds, which means volatile organic compounds in English. It refers to the concentration of volatile organic compounds in the industry that are formed by the conditions of the working environment and are mixed with air. In order to prevent the VOC concentration in the breathing air to reach the risks to the health of the employees, the enterprises should have taken the necessary precautions. This is a legal obligation. VOC measurements are performed to determine this concentration.

Volatile organic compounds can easily evaporate at the normal temperature of the working environment. Therefore, it is seen among carbon-based dangerous compounds in various establishments. Volatile organic compound (VOC) levels are quite high, especially in closed areas of paints, cleaning materials, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. There are thousands of volatile organic compounds that employees are exposed to. These include benzene, acetone, ethylene glycol, methylene chloride, formaldehyde, toluene and xylene.

Even if the VOC level in the work environment is not too high, the presence and breathing of long-term workers in this environment can create many health problems related to the airways. According to research on this subject, prolonged exposure to volatile organic compounds triggers asthma error and causes other diseases in people who are sensitive to chemicals.

High but brief exposure to volatile organic compounds irritates the eyes, nose and throat, causes headache and dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and asthma symptoms increase. High and prolonged exposure to volatile organic compounds increases vital risks, can lead to cancer, serious liver disorders, kidney diseases and nervous system disorders occur.

The Occupational Health and Safety Law, issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in 2012, is to regulate the duties, powers and responsibilities of employers and employees to ensure occupational health and safety in work environments and to improve existing health and safety conditions. Under the law, employers must ensure the health and safety of employees. To this end, it is obliged to ensure the prevention of occupational risks, to carry out risk assessment and to take all kinds of measures. In principle, businesses have to avoid risks, analyze risks if it is not possible to avoid, and combat these risks at source.

For this purpose, enterprises have to carry out some measurement, test and analysis studies. Within this framework, enterprises have to make the necessary measurements according to their field of activity to determine the concentration of volatile organic substances in the environment. These measurements are carried out by authorized test and inspection institutions. During the measurements, legal regulations in force and standards published by local and foreign organizations are taken into consideration. Some of these are:

• TS EN ISO 11890-1 Paints and varnishes - Determination of the content of volatile organic compounds (VOC) - Part 1: Difference method
• TS EN ISO 11890-2 Paints and varnishes - Determination of volatile organic matter content (VOC) - Part 2: Gas chromatography method