What kind of contaminants are found in traditional building materials and absent from green building materials?

The identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as contaminants in traditional building materials and their absence in green building materials is significant for several reasons. VOCs are a group of organic chemicals that can easily evaporate into the air, leading to indoor air pollution. These substances are commonly found in many conventional products such as paints, adhesives, sealants, and other building materials.

Green building materials, on the other hand, are designed to be environmentally friendly and typically avoid the inclusion of harmful chemicals like VOCs. Instead, they use safer alternatives to ensure better indoor air quality and reduce the potential health risks associated with inhaling these compounds. This transition to green alternatives is a central aspect of sustainable construction, aiming to create healthier living environments while minimizing environmental impact.

The other contaminants mentioned—heavy metals, asbestos, and formaldehyde—are indeed concerns within traditional building materials, but they may not be completely absent in every green building material. For instance, while green materials actively strive to eliminate more harmful substances, some may still contain minimal amounts of heavy metals, asbestos can still be found if it's not properly removed from older structures, and formaldehyde can sometimes be present in certain bio-based materials. Therefore, the definitive removal of VOCs in green practices