Which option best defines VOCs in the context of inks and solvents?

• A. Very Organic Compounds released from solvents
• B. Volatile Oxygen Compounds emitted during drying
• C. Volatile Organic Carbons used in inks
• D. Volatile Organic Compounds released from inks and solvents

Answer: (D)

VOCs are volatile organic compounds—carbon-based chemicals that evaporate readily into the air. In printing, these compounds come from inks and solvents and are released as vapors during mixing, application, drying, and curing.

The best definition emphasizes two ideas: they are volatile (they vaporize easily) and organic (carbon-containing), and they are released from inks and solvents during normal processing. The other statements mislead—some refer to oxygen or to “carbons used in inks,” which isn’t what VOCs describe, or use imprecise phrasing like “very organic compounds.”