Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are molecules that easily change between the gas and liquid phases. In other words, VOCs are gases that evaporate into the air and can be smelled. They are found in many substances such as plants, animals, foods, and cleaning products. The sense of smell helps us detect things like spoiled food or natural gas leaks before they become serious problems.

The sense of smell can be used to detect disease. While it may seem strange that a person’s sense of smell can detect disease, the fact is that we have been doing this for centuries. In fact, scientists have known for years that there are specific diseases that give off odours and these odours are detectable by those with a keen sense of smell.

The ability to detect these airborne molecules is called olfaction and it is an extremely important part of our lives because it helps us find food, water and mate; as well as alerting us to danger from poisonous substances around us (such as rotten meat) which could harm or kill us if ingested/inhaled without knowing beforehand what was dangerous about it.

VOCs are produced by every living cell as a part of normal metabolism, however, in cases of pathology like infection or disease, the profile of these VOCs changes, as does the quantity when compared to their healthy counterparts. This allows sensitive sensors and AI to discriminate between health and disease.

There are many ways that VOCs can be used to detect human disease. One way is by detecting the presence of specific VOCs in the air around us. These markers can be used as a way to diagnose certain diseases or conditions, similar to the use of blood tests or X-rays.

VOCs include compounds like acetone and ammonia—both of which are produced in higher amounts by people with diabetes. By measuring these chemicals in an individual’s breath or sweat (which contains small amounts of all VOCs), doctors can determine whether there is an issue with their metabolism or kidney function.

It is well known that humans exhale volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. These VOCs are mostly made up of water and carbon dioxide, but they can also contain small amounts of other chemicals. Some studies have used these VOCs as biomarkers for diagnosing various diseases such as liver damage or lung cancer.

As a result, scientists have been able to detect Cancers by analyzing the odor profile of people's breath before and after receiving medical treatment. For example, breast cancer has been shown to produce specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the breath which can be detected using an e-nose device called "eNose". The device was able to detect high levels of these specific VOCs on patients with breast tumors compared with healthy individuals without tumors.[1]

It is well known that humans exhale volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. These VOCs are mostly made up of water and carbon dioxide, but they can also contain small amounts of other chemicals. Some studies have used these VOCs as biomarkers for diagnosing various diseases such as liver damage or lung cancer.

As a result, scientists have been able to detect Cancers by analyzing the odor profile of people's breath before and after receiving medical treatment. For example, breast cancer has been shown to produce specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the breath which can be detected using an e-nose device called "eNose". The device was able to detect high levels of these specific VOCs on patients with breast tumors compared with healthy individuals without tumors.[1]

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and the second leading cause of death from cancer among women. It is caused by mutations in breast tissue cells, which then spread to other parts of the body. Although breast cancer can be detected by mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies and blood tests, VOCs have also been shown to help detect it early on before it has a chance to spread.

In one study using dogs trained to sniff out breast cancer using VOCs as a marker for malignant tumors; researchers were able to locate tumors about 98% of the time with this method compared to only 38% with standard methods such as mammography or ultrasound scans alone (this is because VOCs are able detect malignant growths up until they become invasive). The dogs were also able identify benign lumps and cysts so that surgeons could remove them safely without cutting away any healthy tissue along with it (which would result in unnecessary pain).

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. According to the American Cancer Society, more than a quarter of a million new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone. While early detection can greatly improve your chances of survival, prostate cancer often goes undetected until it's too late to prevent or treat it successfully.

To help overcome this shortcoming, researchers have been searching for biomarkers—specifically volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—that could be used as indicators of prostate cancer risk in humans. For instance, previous studies have shown that men who experience frequent urination and blood in their urine are at greater risk for developing prostate cancer than those without these symptoms. Similarly, a study published in 2017 found that VOCs were present in 16 out of 18 patients with advanced stage prostate cancer but absent in 12 out of 13 patients with low-grade disease or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), indicating that these chemicals may indeed be good indicators when used alongside other diagnostic tests like PSA levels and transrectal ultrasounds (TRUS).

The main advantage of using VOCs as markers for disease is that they're a non-invasive way to monitor the health of an individual. A patient doesn't need to undergo surgery or take blood samples in order for researchers to analyse their breath sample. This means that monitoring could be carried out on a regular basis without any discomfort or pain.

VOCs are a treasure trove of information, and by learning how to harness them, we can gain insight into the health of our bodies and our environment. VOCs have been shown to be useful biomarkers for disease detection and monitoring. We hope this article has encouraged you to consider further research into this fascinating topic!