Hong Kong Formaldehyde Removal Service Background

In the past, due to the public's lack of knowledge about formaldehyde, VOCs and other air quality issues (such as suspended particulates), indoor air quality (IAQ) at home and in the office was not addressed promptly, causing many health problems ranging from skin allergies (such as eczema) to cancer.

However, as the Environmental Protection Department of the government has actively promoted indoor space quality in recent years, the public has generally become more aware of formaldehyde and air quality.

At the same time, in recent years, formaldehyde removal companies have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, but the quality varies, and each company boasts about its formaldehyde removal materials . Citizens must have a basic understanding of formaldehyde and TVOC in order to make wise choices.

What are formaldehyde and TVOC?

Formaldehyde, chemical formula HCHO, mass 30.03, also known as aldehyde, is a naturally occurring organic compound. It is a colorless irritating gas that irritates the eyes and nose. In 2011, the U.S. National Toxicology Program described formaldehyde as a "known human carcinogen."

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), sometimes also referred to as TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compound).

The harm of volatile organic compounds is very obvious. When the concentration of volatile organic compounds in the room exceeds a certain concentration, people will feel headache, nausea, vomiting, and weakness in the limbs within a short period of time; in severe cases, they will have convulsions, coma, and memory loss. Volatile organic compounds harm the liver, kidneys, brain and nervous system, and they also contain many carcinogens. Indoor air pollution by volatile organic compounds has attracted the attention of all countries.

Sources of formaldehyde and TVOC

1. Wooden products (adhesives inside various furniture, beds, cabinets, floors, wooden doors), mattresses, curtains, wallpaper, putty and glue.

2. Flooring. For those laminate floors and even cheap floors, in addition to containing a large amount of glue, the amount of glue used by decorators when installing the floors is also very alarming, which is bound to be the largest source of formaldehyde release.

3. Wallpaper. Of course glue is indispensable for pasting wallpaper. The whole new house is covered with wallpaper. The high temperature in summer and the closed heating environment in winter are the peak periods of formaldehyde release.

4. Paint itself does not contain formaldehyde, but paint has no adhesion when applied to furniture, so glue must be added! Then, paint has become one of the sources of formaldehyde pollution in the air.

Effects of formaldehyde and TVOC on health

The decay period is relatively long, generally lasting 10 to 15 years, and is mostly manifested as a slow release state. The higher the temperature, the faster the release. The main harm of formaldehyde is that it is irritating to the skin and mucous membranes. When formaldehyde reaches a certain concentration indoors, people will feel uncomfortable. Formaldehyde concentrations greater than 0.08m³ can cause red eyes, itchy eyes, throat discomfort or pain, hoarseness, sneezing, chest tightness, asthma, dermatitis, etc.
Formaldehyde can cause proteins in cells to coagulate and deform, inhibiting all cell functions. Long-term exposure to low doses of formaldehyde can cause chronic respiratory diseases, nasopharyngeal cancer, colon cancer, brain tumors; gene mutations in cell nuclei, cross-linking of DNA single chains and cross-linking of DNA and proteins, and inhibition of DNA damage repair; pregnancy syndrome, chromosomal abnormalities and leukemia in newborns, and memory and intelligence decline in adolescents. Among all those exposed, children and pregnant women are particularly sensitive to formaldehyde, and the harm is greater.

Common methods of removing formaldehyde

1. DIY formaldehyde removal (see this website for details)

2. Formaldehyde removal service (mainstream types include photocatalysts ( ultraviolet light and visible light), air catalysts, CT catalysts, nano-silver coatings, etc.)

3. Air purifier (with formaldehyde and TVOC filtering function)

4. Choose environmentally friendly decoration materials, such as E1 wood (compliant with EU environmental standards), and reduce the use of boards and tools containing glue

Formaldehyde and TVOC safety indicators

Formaldehyde safety index HCHO: 0.08PPM (part per minion)

Volatile organic compounds TVOC: 0.6PPM

Data from Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department