The best ways to remove Formaldehyde from you apartment
The effects of Formaldehyde on human body
Formaldehyde is also known for other effects on the body:
- Chronic fatigue, unexplained drowsiness and insomnia
- Headache
- Fever
- Coughing and shortness of breath
- Chest pain and irregular heart beats
- Stomach pain and vomiting
- Skin irritation
Common sources of Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a very common substance: it is among the 25 most abundantly produced chemicals in the world. People are usually exposed to formaldehyde by inhaling it or by skin or eye contact. It's not rare to be exposed to Formaldehyde through furniture as it is used in pressed-wood products such as plywood and as a component for glues and adhesives.
Formaldehyde is pretty common in the kitchen: it can be added as a preservative to food and it's also produced when cooking and smoking. You can be exposed to it as a consequence of combustion of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Formaldehyde can also be found in air fresheners, fragrances, paper towels, nail polish and nail polish removers, baby care products or even toothpaste.
How can I find Formaldehyde
When present, you can find Formaldehyde listed on the product label. Be aware that it can be listed using alternative names such as:
- Formalin
- Methanal
- Methylene oxide
- Formic aldehyde
How do I get rid of Formaldehyde
Opting for formaldehyde-free products it's not the only way to reduce exposure to formaldehyde. It is good practice to maintain a healthy level of humidity in the apartment and, if possible, increase ventilation by opening windows.
A great way to take out Formaldehyde is by using appropriate Air Purifiers. Not every air purifier will remove formaldehyde in your apartment, as a matter of fact, only a few of them do it. HEPA filters, the most common filters on the market, don't have any effect on VOCs and can't reduce formaldehyde. Carbon activated filters, on the other hand, can trap chemicals such formaldehyde but may require high maintenance and need regular filters replacement. An oversaturated Carbon-activated filter can actually be counterproductive.
The best air purifiers for Formaldehyde and VOCs
Photocatalytic air purifiers are the best choice to remove Formaldehyde and VOCs from your apartment. These air purifiers, usually recommended for people who suffer from asthma and allergies, use light energy to start a process that breaks down pollutants into harmless substances, without physically trapping them info filters.
The usual drawback of this technology is that a common byproduct of Photocatalysis is ozone, a dangerous substances. We recommend ozone-free Air Purifiers such as BRID Air, that removes VOCs and Formaldehyde without generating any dangerous byproducts and without the need to replace filters.
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