Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas you'll find in manufacturing construction materials and a variety of household products. Regular exposure to this naturally occurring chemical compound can be harmful to the human body, so you should avoid it as much as possible. Continue reading to discover how to protect yourself from formaldehyde indoors.

Sources of Indoor Formaldehyde

Many industries use formaldehyde to make wood, paper, plywood, glues and adhesives, permanent press textiles, various paints and varnishes, and some insulating materials. You can find formaldehyde indoors and outdoors, but there are typically much higher concentrations inside. The compound is volatile, which means that it evaporates and gets discharged into the air from many different household products. Emissions can accelerate due to excessive humidity and elevated temperatures.

Use Detection Equipment

You want to do everything to keep workers safe from formaldehyde exposure and notify them as soon you identify the gas. You can use monitoring equipment to measure formaldehyde concentrations in the air or water (dissolved) in units of parts per million (ppm). The earlier you can detect these harmful compounds, the faster you can react.

Never Allow Smoking Inside

Tobacco smoke contains high levels of formaldehyde. When you or someone in your household smokes, the fumes could be the most significant source of formaldehyde inside your home. If someone needs to use a tobacco product, ensure they do so outside.

Ventilate the Space

Keep your windows open or use exhaust fans to push potentially contaminated air out and draw fresh air inside. Ensure that any combustion appliances feature a separate exhaust system that leads outside. While using cleansers, cosmetics such as nail polish remover, or certain paints, try to keep the space ventilated.

Allow New Furniture and Pressed-wood Pieces to Breathe

Most formaldehyde-emitting consumable goods, such as plywood and particleboard, emit the highest concentrations of the compound when they're brand new. Allow them to air out before taking them inside or installing any components.

Clean Out Chimneys and Wood-Burning Appliances.

Make sure your fireplaces and wood stoves are in excellent operating condition to keep smoke out of your living space. Clean your chimney, and clear away blockages by burning only well-seasoned firewood.

Learning how to protect yourself from formaldehyde indoors can help significantly safeguard your health and well-being. TG Technical Services offers the best formaldehyde monitoring equipment to alert yourself and others of potentially dangerous concentrations of this chemical. Feel free to contact us with any questions about our products.