Formaldehyde is a colorless chemical with a strong smell found in many places and the products inside them. It’s one of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) you want to avoid.

People don’t exhibit symptoms of formaldehyde exposure at lower levels, which means it can often go overlooked. It's crucial to use gas monitoring devices, such as a formaldehyde gas detector, to provide accurate readings on indoor air quality. Learn the most effective ways to improve air quality when you detect formaldehyde to help reduce health risks and ensure safe air quality.

Ventilate the Space

The first line of defense against formaldehyde is proper ventilation. If there are confirmed levels of formaldehyde in your building, be sure to open surrounding windows and doors. You want to permit outdoor air to circulate to help improve the air quality.

Control Humidity Levels

The level of moisture in the air can contribute to the development of formaldehyde via mold growth. If you detect formaldehyde inside an indoor space, you should investigate for signs of mold, mildew, and spores that have grown from being in a humid environment. Maintaining humidity levels also helps keep the items in an indoor space from emitting formaldehyde.

Remove Tobacco Products

You can trace back detectable levels of formaldehyde to environmental and lifestyle factors. If there’s frequent use of tobacco products inside a space, the smoke from these products can amplify the concentration levels of formaldehyde. Eliminating tobacco use inside an enclosed space can also help purify the air of additional toxins that contribute to health risks.

Prevent Future Exposure

While there are easy ways to improve air quality when you detect formaldehyde, the most effective method to limit exposure is to prevent it altogether. After lowering the existing levels of formaldehyde in a space, you should make the necessary environmental adjustments to stop future risks of exposure.

These additional precautions can include allowing items to air out or “off-gas” after removing them from original packaging and washing new clothing. You can also aim to use products that have no formaldehyde or low levels of volatile organic compounds.

TG Technical Services is the hub for gas detecting technology to help you identify hazardous gases in an indoor environment. Explore our broad selection of gas monitors and devices to ensure the health and safety of your building today!