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Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, non-smelling gas that belongs to a group of organic compounds called aldehydes, which are formed by the oxidation of alcohols. Another typical aldehyde is acetaldehyde, a common chemical in the environment that may also be formed in the body from the breakdown of ethanol. Suffering from a hangover? Now you know why.
The reason why people are starting to take notice is that formaldehyde has been linked to cancer over time and sometimes, exposure can lead to immediate health effects. The EPA lists symptoms such as watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing. These effects can often be seen in people who were exposed to elevated levels (above 0.1 parts per million). High concentrations may also trigger attacks in people with asthma. Some individuals may develop a sensitivity to formaldehyde after being exposed to the VOC over a long time or in high concentrations.
How to reduce exposure to formaldehyde:
Read product labels and opt for formaldehyde-free products
Use “exterior-grade” pressed wood products
Increase ventilation in the home. This can be done by opening windows or leaving the HVAC fan running.
Maintain a healthy level of humidity in the home.
Improve the indoor air quality with an air purifier that can remove VOCs such as formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde causes cancer and it is pertinent to know more about its removal.
You can find this deadly chemical in glues, paints, lacquers and finishes. Formaldehyde is a human carcinogen that is also used in permanent press fabrics and in paper products. Not every air purifier can remove formaldehyde. In fact, the models you can buy in most department stores won’t have the filters required to remove formaldehyde and other dangerous chemicals.
Formaldehyde is often found in nail salons. For example, nail hardeners contain formaldehyde among many other dangerous chemicals that are commonplace in nail salons.
Due to the fact that most air purifiers rely simply on HEPA filters alone, these are great for filtering out fine particles, however, they are unable to remove VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) such as formaldehyde.
The best option for chemical and odor filtration is granular activated carbon. Activated carbon is charcoal or another natural substance (such as coconut shell) that was treated with oxygen to make it very porous so that it can adsorb chemicals, gases and odors from gases or liquid.
Adsorption (different from absorption) means that these volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde attach themselves by way of chemical reaction to the surface of the activated carbon, meaning they are trapped in there.
This means that air purifiers with activated carbon filters can reduce ones exposure to, if not eliminate completely, formaldehyde and hundreds of other chemicals from the ambient air. Activated carbon has a high-efficiency rating when it comes to removing formaldehyde. In one independent test, an air purifier with an 18 lb. activated carbon filter was able to remove high levels of formaldehyde from a closed-off room in under six hours.
So, if you combine an activated carbon filter with a HEPA filter, the air purifier will be able to remove chemicals such as formaldehyde as well as particles and provide better overall indoor air quality. The amount of activated carbon is important. The more activated carbon the more efficient and longer-lasting the filters.
Formaldehyde is just one chemical out of thousands on the market today, and it’s only one of several hundred you might be exposed to each day and it keeps coming up in the news and in government-issued warnings.
Do you need to care? Yes. Formaldehyde is very much a concern to you since it is used in so many household products and materials. Formaldehyde exists in construction and building materials in most modern homes. It’s common in composite wood products such as plywood and particleboard. It may be in your home’s insulation. It is even used as a preservative in some medicines, cosmetics, fabric softeners as well as dish-washing liquids. Formaldehyde is released in tobacco smoke, word-burning and gas stoves. So, chances are fairly high that you and your family (and pets, co-workers, etc.) are exposed to formaldehyde in your home or office.