Community Guidance

The following images represent PDFs that were created for renters and homeowners to help guide on best indoor safety practices for VOC protection.

Advice on avoiding VOC exposure in homes, including ventilating, wearing mask while cleaning, choosing certified low or no VOC products

Advice on how to protect against VOCs in terms of products to use and avoid. For example, unscented laundry detergents will have lower VOCs than scented products.

VOC Exposure In Your Home

This information sheet (download here) detail ways to decrease VOC exposure from common sources in the household. Strategies to avoid VOC exposure in residences (pictured left) include maintaining household air vents, storing paint cans and bleach bottles in the garage, don't use air fresheners, wearing a mask while cleaning, purchasing an air filter and home air quality monitor, choosing low-VOC cleaning products and paints, read labels of cleaning and paint products, using a hood fan or opening a window while cooking with a gas oven, and listen to your body.

How to Protect Yourself

The image on the right details product types and ingredients to avoid. For example, when available, look at product ingredients and avoid those with fragrances, benzene, tritetraethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), formaldehyde, toluene. See information sheet for more guidance.

Research Recruitment Brochure

The image below represents research recruitment tools to be used for CLEAR's community-based work. The Community Engagement Core connects with Detroit residents in neighborhoods impacted by VOCs, measures the VOC amounts in their home, and hosts discussions with homeowners and residents. The brochure is used to explain the risks of VOCs, and encourages residents to reach out to the CEC in order to participate in CLEAR's research.