Pretty much anything that has a smell is releasing vocs.
Fumes new 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.
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.
New woollen carpets will also come with a weak wool smell which can get stronger if the material is wet or damp.
The thing with vocs is they aren t unique to carpet.
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.
A freshly installed carpet may bring with it a strong odor due to numerous chemicals used in the manufacturing process.
The vocs responsible for new carpet smell are 4 phenylcyclohexene 4 pch and to a lesser extent styrene.
As a new carpet gradually releases or off gasses chemical residue the chemicals enter the air where we can smell them.
Volatile organic compounds voc produce a lot of new carpet smell.
The new carpet smell is fumes off gassed released from the carpet.
Some people are very sensitive to voc s and may have respiratory problems in response to new carpeting.
If your health is affected by the smell of new carpeting go for a voc free carpet.