Which detector primarily detects Volatile Organic Compounds?

• A. Oxygen
• B. Water Vapor
• C. Volatile Organic Compounds
• D. Ammonia

Answer: (C)

Detecting airborne volatile organic compounds is done with a detector specifically designed to sense organic vapors. VOCs are carbon-containing compounds that readily evaporate at room temperature, so a VOC detector uses sensing methods tuned to those organic vapors to indicate their presence and, in many cases, concentration.

Oxygen detectors measure the amount of oxygen in the air, not organic vapors. Water vapor detectors gauge humidity levels, not chemical vapors. Ammonia detectors target ammonia, an inorganic compound. So while those detectors are essential for their respective targets, they wouldn’t reliably indicate VOC presence.