Formaldehyde is one of the most common components of indoor air pollution. Found throughout both nature and anthropogenic activities, formaldehyde is used in many different industries and has been proven to be a human carcinogen¹. Read on to learn more about formaldehyde and how a formaldehyde air purifier can protect you from its dangers.

Source ⁷

What is the formaldehyde molecule?

Formaldehyde defined

Formaldehyde (also known as methanal with a chemical formula of CH2O) is a highly reactive organic compound. It is a colourless, irritating gas with a pungent odour and is the simplest form of aldehyde that is easily dissolved in water, making it ideal for use in various industrial applications. Formaldehyde quickly photo-oxidises with carbon dioxide in ambient air and gives formic acid when it reacts with hydroxyl molecules. It is a volatile organic compound (VOC)².

The sources of formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is present in nature as well as human activities. It is found/released in the following substances and products:

Environmental sources

• Forest and bush fires
• Volcano activity

Anthropogenic sources

• Vehicle and industrial emissions (fuel combustion)
• Building materials
• Insulation
• Wood products
• Furniture
• Glue and adhesives, paints, fabrics, textiles, varnishes, lacquers, and coatings
• Clothing
• Cleaning agents and detergents
• Fertilisers, fungicides, and pesticides
• Cosmetics
• Automobile fuel combustion
• Cigarette smoke
• Indoor cooking emissions (especially from frying)^3,4

Due to its wide range of use, risk of human exposure is high. Formaldehyde is found in more significant concentrations indoors than outdoors. Studies have found formaldehyde in most indoor rooms (bedrooms, kitchens, office buildings, public buildings, schools, and motorhomes, to name a few) regardless of geographical location. However, certain factors contribute to more elevated concentrations including a building’s age (formaldehyde concentrations decrease with time), temperature and humidity, air exchange rate, and season¹.

What are the health effects?

The main pathway by which formaldehyde enters the body is through inhalation; it may also be ingested and absorbed through the skin¹. When inhaled, formaldehyde is absorbed and accumulates in the upper respiratory tract. Exposure to concentrations of formaldehyde between 0.1 and 1 ppm may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat and increased eye tearing. Dizziness, coughing, and nausea are also common.

Symptom severity is dependent upon the length and concentration of exposure. Studies have shown that chronic exposure to formaldehyde leads to an assortment of symptoms including:

• Menstrual disorders
• Adverse pregnancy outcomes
• Asthma
• Effects on the central nervous system including irritability, headaches, sleep disorders, depression and anxiety, and mood swings
• Multiple types of cancer³

Formaldehyde and cancer

Formaldehyde has genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on the body, aspects which led to its classification as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Since the 1980s, studies have focused their efforts on analysing the relationship between formaldehyde exposure and cancer, leukaemia in particular. Studies in lab rats found that inhalation of formaldehyde causes DNA damage that results in tumour formation and cell proliferation⁵. One study in particular found that crematorium and funeral home employees, a sector with high formaldehyde exposure, experienced an elevated risk for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), especially in employees who performed embalming⁶.

Another animal study reported an increase in haematological malignancies and toxicity in bone marrow in mice exposed to 14 ppm of formaldehyde for two years⁵.

These results show the importance of formaldehyde mitigation in regards to indoor air quality and the risk of its exposure on human health.

Benefits of air purifiers for formaldehyde

Improved health

Air purifiers are effective at reducing airborne pollutants that pose health issues. By neutralising toxic substances and gaseous particles found in your indoor air, your health is protected from indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde.

Studies have shown that air pollution, especially particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is responsible for many health conditions. Some of those negative health effects include respiratory diseases like asthma, allergies, and COPD; cardiovascular conditions; mental health conditions like depression and anxiety; impacted fertility and pregnancy outcomes; decreased productivity and performance; and more.

Allergen control

Another benefit of investing in a formaldehyde air purifier is the removal of allergens that cause allergy symptoms like nasal congestion and irritation of the nose and throat, coughing, fatigue, and an itchy nose and eyes. These are all symptoms that are alleviated thanks to an air purifier that reduces your risk of exposure to allergenic particulates.

Odour reduction

Conveniently, the technology that is most effective at removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde from your indoor air is also able to combat even the most stubborn unpleasant odours in your indoor space. Activated carbon filtration is the superstar of neutralising persistent odours and odour-causing molecules caused by VOCs. Thanks to high-quality air purifiers like Eoleaf’s, the unpleasant smell caused by formaldehyde-emitting sources like household items has become a thing of the past.

Long-term protection

There is no better investment than that of health protection. An high-end air purifier helps limit your exposure to harmful airborne chemicals, improving well-being and quality of life. Protect not only your lungs and respiratory system but all parts of the body impacted by air pollution.

Factors to consider when choosing a formaldehyde air purifier

Filtration technologies: HEPA and carbon filter

It is important to keep in mind that not all air purifiers are capable of removing gaseous pollutants: only those equipped with technologies like activated carbon filtration are able to do so. High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)-certified filters, although highly effective at removing fine particles (particulate matter), do not have the capacity to combat gas pollutants like VOCs. HEPA filters focus their efforts on fine and nanoparticles down to a size of 0.3 microns (and smaller: read about the 0.3 micron barrier here).

It is for this reason that we always recommended purchasing a device that contains multiple air purification technologies. Having at least a HEPA-certified filter and an activated carbon filter will ensure the removal of two major types of air pollution: HEPA-certified filters and activated carbon filters filter out fine particles and VOCs, respectively. Activated carbon filters have worked for centuries in removing impurities from the air and water and remains one of the most effective methods of VOC removal.

Eoleaf’s air purifiers, for example, contain 8 different air filtration technologies (including medical-grade HEPA H13 filters and activated carbon filters), far more than most air purifiers on the market. Another VOC-fighting depollution method found in our air purifiers is photocatalysis. When used with activated carbon filters, rest assured that all VOCs will be successfully removed from your air. Our devices remove 99.97% of all air pollutants down to a size of 0.01 microns in a single pass.

Noise levels

When investing in an indoor formaldehyde air purifier, it is crucial to find one that is quiet and will not disturb occupants in the room. If planning to install your device in a bedroom, office, classroom, or other location where noise may be distracting, a quiet formaldehyde air purifier should be a priority. Eoleaf air purifiers never exceed 60 dB of noise even at their highest fan speeds.

Additionally, when installing an air purifier to control formaldehyde concentrations in a bedroom, using an Eoleaf purifier on Night mode provides gentle white noise that studies have shown improves sleep duration and quality.

Room size

Another important metric to keep in mind when seeking out a formaldehyde air purifier is that the device is properly sized to the room in which you plan to install it. Air purifier efficacy is determined by its Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR), a universal metric used across the air purification market that allows customers to compare brands and choose the most powerful device for their needs. CADR refers to the volume of filtered air an air purifier is able to efficiently and effectively mix into your room’s square footage. The higher the CADR, the more efficient the device!

Air Changes per Hour (ACH) is another factor to keep in mind. ACH is the amount of times a room’s air is completely filtered and replaced per hour. The industry standard recommends an ACH of 4 or 5 (meaning that the air is completely replaced 4 or 5 times per hour). Companies selling air purifiers, like Eoleaf, will calculate ACH for you and recommend a model of air purifier based on fan speed, the specific size of your room, and your specific needs to ensure that you are getting an optimal ACH depending upon the model of formaldehyde air purifier you have in mind.

Fight formaldehyde with Eoleaf

Eoleaf devices are designed to combat all three major types of air pollution (chemical pollution like VOCs, fine particle pollution, and biological pollution). If formaldehyde is a problem in your indoor space, do not let the problem persist. Invest in an Eoleaf air purifier for improved health and peace of mind.

Frequently asked questions

Do air purifiers work for formaldehyde?

Air purifiers that are equipped with volatile organic compound (VOC)-fighting technologies like activated carbon filtration and photocatalysis will work for formaldehyde.

What neutralises formaldehyde smell?

Typically, the main technology found in air purifiers that fights VOCs is also capable of removing odours. Air purifiers for formaldehyde that contain activated carbon filtration, for example, will reduce formaldehyde concentrations by 99.97% in a single pass as well as any formaldehyde-associated odours.

Which filter destroys formaldehyde?

Activated carbon filtration is highly effective at removing formaldehyde from your indoor air. It will also remove other gaseous pollutants like ozone and benzene, exposure to which is dangerous for your health. Alongside activated carbon filtration, photocatalysis is another technology used in Eoleaf air purifiers that is highly efficient at removing airborne VOCs.

What removes formaldehyde from the air?

One of the most effective technologies in removing formaldehyde and other VOCs is activated carbon filtration. Eoleaf devices also come equipped with photocatalysis depollution technologies, another highly effective method of removing VOCs from the air.

How much formaldehyde in air is toxic?

There is no safe concentration of formaldehyde. Short-term exposure to minimal amounts of formaldehyde still causes upper respiratory symptoms like eye and nose irritation in many individuals. As concentrations and length of exposure increase, the symptoms become more severe, especially a heightened risk of cancer.

What causes formaldehyde in homes?

Formaldehyde is found in many types of home products including glues and adhesives, wood products, furniture, carpets and textiles, cleaning products, clothing, and more. In fact, formaldehyde may be continually released for up to two years by new furniture installed in the home!

How do I know if my house has formaldehyde?

A great way to test your indoor air quality is to invest in an Eoleaf air purifier that comes equipped with a handheld remote control that measures and monitors your indoor air quality in real-time. Our air purifiers not only detect concentrations of indoor air pollutants but remove them from your indoor air, safeguarding you from inhalation. Read more about our products here.

Resources

¹ Kaden DA, Mandin C, Nielsen GD, et al. Formaldehyde. In: WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Selected Pollutants. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010. 3. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK138711/ 

² Kang DS, Kim HS, Jung JH, Lee CM, Ahn YS, Seo YR. Formaldehyde exposure and leukemia risk: a comprehensive review and network-based toxicogenomic approach. Genes Environ. 2021 Apr 12;43(1):13. doi: 10.1186/s41021-021-00183-5. PMID: 33845901; PMCID: PMC8042688.

³ Khoshakhlagh, A. H., Mohammadzadeh, M., Ghobakhloo, S., Cheng, H., Gruszecka-Kosowska, A., & Knight, J. (2024). Health risk assessment from inhalation exposure to indoor formaldehyde: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 471, 134307. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134307 

⁴ Cammalleri V, Pocino RN, Marotta D, Protano C, Sinibaldi F, Simonazzi S, Petyx M, Iavicoli S, Vitali M. Occupational scenarios and exposure assessment to formaldehyde: A systematic review. Indoor Air. 2022 Jan;32(1):e12949. doi: 10.1111/ina.12949. Epub 2021 Oct 27. PMID: 34708443; PMCID: PMC9298394.

⁵ Kang DS, Kim HS, Jung JH, Lee CM, Ahn YS, Seo YR. Formaldehyde exposure and leukemia risk: a comprehensive review and network-based toxicogenomic approach. Genes Environ. 2021 Apr 12;43(1):13. doi: 10.1186/s41021-021-00183-5. PMID: 33845901; PMCID: PMC8042688.

⁶ Linos A, Blair A, Cantor KP, Burmeister L, VanLier S, Gibson RW, Schuman L, Everett G. Leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among embalmers and funeral directors. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1990 Jan 3;82(1):66. doi: 10.1093/jnci/82.1.66. PMID: 2293657.

⁷ Formaldehyde: What are the risks? - formaldéhyde. EOLESENS. (2022, December 16). https://www.eolesens.com/formaldehyde