Formaldehyde Safety Standards and Sources

In the past, because the general public had limited knowledge of formaldehyde, VOCs, and other air quality issues (such as suspended particles), they did not promptly address indoor air quality (IAQ) in homes and offices. This led to many health problems, ranging from mild skin allergies (such as eczema) to serious conditions like cancer.

However, with the Environmental Protection Department’s active promotion of indoor air quality in recent years, the public has generally gained a better understanding of formaldehyde and air quality.

At the same time, formaldehyde removal companies have sprung up like mushrooms after rain in recent years, but their quality varies greatly, and every company highlights its own formaldehyde removal materials. The public must have a basic understanding of formaldehyde and TVOC in order to make wise choices.​

What Are Formaldehyde and TVOC?

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

Its decay period is relatively long, generally lasting 10 to 15 years, and it usually appears in a state of slow release. The higher the temperature, the faster the release. The main harm of formaldehyde is its irritating effect on the skin and mucous membranes. When the indoor concentration of formaldehyde reaches a certain level, people feel discomfort. Formaldehyde concentrations greater than 0.08 mg/m³ can cause red eyes, itchy eyes, throat discomfort or pain, hoarseness, sneezing, chest tightness, asthma, dermatitis, etc.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), sometimes also expressed as TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compounds).

The harm of volatile organic compounds is obvious. When the concentration of volatile organic compounds in a room exceeds a certain level, people may feel headaches, nausea, vomiting, and limb weakness in a short time; in severe cases, it can cause convulsions, coma, and memory loss. Volatile organic compounds damage the human liver, kidneys, brain, and nervous system, and many of them are carcinogenic substances. Indoor air pollution by volatile organic compounds has attracted attention from various countries.

Sources of Formaldehyde and TVOC

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

2. Floors — for laminated flooring or even cheap flooring, in addition to containing a large amount of glue, the amount of glue used by renovation workers when installing the floor is also very alarming, making it inevitably the largest source of formaldehyde release.

3. Wallpaper — pasting wallpaper naturally requires glue. When an entire new house is covered with wallpaper, the high temperatures in summer and the closed heating environment in winter are peak periods for formaldehyde release.

4. Paint — the paint itself does not contain formaldehyde, but paint applied to furniture does not have adhesion on its own, so glue must be added! Therefore, paint has also become one of the sources of formaldehyde pollution in the air.

Health Impacts of Formaldehyde and TVOC

The decay period is relatively long, generally lasting 10 to 15 years, and it mostly appears in a state of slow release. The higher the temperature, the faster the release. The main harm of formaldehyde is its irritation to the skin and mucous membranes. When the indoor concentration of formaldehyde reaches a certain level, people feel discomfort. Formaldehyde concentrations greater than 0.08 mg/m³ can cause red eyes, itchy eyes, throat discomfort or pain, hoarseness, sneezing, chest tightness, asthma, dermatitis, etc.

Formaldehyde can coagulate and denature proteins in cells, inhibiting all cellular functions. Long-term exposure to low doses of formaldehyde can cause chronic respiratory diseases, nasopharyngeal cancer, colon cancer, and brain tumors; gene mutations in the cell nucleus, DNA single-strand cross-linking, DNA-protein cross-linking, and inhibition of DNA damage repair; pregnancy syndromes, chromosomal abnormalities in newborns, leukemia, and declines in memory and intelligence in adolescents. Among all those exposed, children and pregnant women are particularly sensitive to formaldehyde, and the harm is therefore greater.

Common Methods for Removing Formaldehyde

1. DIY formaldehyde removal (see details on this website) 2. Formaldehyde removal services (mainstream materials include photocatalysts (ultraviolet and visible light), air catalysts, CT catalysts, nano-silver coatings, etc.) 3. Air purifiers (with functions to filter formaldehyde and TVOC) 4. Selecting environmentally friendly renovation materials, such as E1 wood boards (compliant with EU environmental standards), and reducing the use of boards and tools that contain glue

Formaldehyde and TVOC Safety Indicators

Formaldehyde safety indicator HCHO: 0.08 PPM (parts per million) Total Volatile Organic Compounds TVOC: 0.6 PPM ​ Data from the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (香港環境保護署)