The thing with vocs is they aren t unique to carpet.
Fumes new carpet.
The new carpet smell is fumes off gassed released from the carpet.
Almost any brand new carpet does give off some voc s fumes that leave a musty scent especially the ones made from synthetic fibres.
A freshly installed carpet may bring with it a strong odor due to numerous chemicals used in the manufacturing process.
Some people are very sensitive to voc s and may have respiratory problems in response to new carpeting.
Within a few days to a few weeks these fumes dissipate and the carpet no longer smells.
As a new carpet gradually releases or off gasses chemical residue the chemicals enter the air where we can smell them.
Some carpet backing materials adhesives and pads contain volatile chemicals that off gas or turn into fumes when exposed to air.
The fumes are called volatile organic compounds or vocs for short and one of the most notorious carpet vocs is called 4 phenylcyclohexenem aka 4 pc.
There are many different types of vocs but the one related to new carpet odor is 4 phenylcyclohexene 4 pch a by product of the synthetic latex binders used to hold the carpet backing together.
Pretty much anything that has a smell is releasing vocs.
Vocs are what create new car smell new carpet smell and the smell that you probably don t enjoy so much after you paint a room.
If your health is affected by the smell of new carpeting go for a voc free carpet.