Formaldehyde in indoor air: a public health problem?

Abstract

Formaldehyde was the first air pollutant, which already in the 1970s emerged as a specifically non-industrial indoor air quality problem. Yet formaldehyde remained an indoor air quality issue and the formaldehyde level in residential indoor air is among the highest of any indoor air contaminant.Formaldehyde concentrations in 4 different indoor settings (schools, office buildings, new dwellings and occupied dwellings) in Portugal were measured using Photo Ionization Detection (PID) equipment (11,7 eV lamps).All the settings presented results higher than the reference value proposed by Portuguese legislation. Furthermore, occupied dwellings showed 3 units with results above the reference.We could conclude that formaldehyde presence is a reality in monitored indoor settings. Concentration levels are higher than the Portuguese reference value for indoor settings and these can indicate health problems for occupants.

Science communication on the public health risks of air pollution: a computational scoping review from 1958 to 2022

“…Air quality was examined in different settings: indoor air quality [ 93 – 95 ] as well as ambient air quality [ 96 , 97 ]. Analyses include management of specific single pollutants like formaldehyde [ 94 ] and the management of mixtures of selected environmental air pollutants [ 96 , 97 ], as well as general air quality without specific reference to any individual pollutants [ 93 , 95 ]. The topic focuses primarily on the examination of public laws and policies [ 93 , 96 , 97 ].…”

“…For example, the research of Chan [ 93 ] addressed planners, contractors, developers, building owners and management companies, while Longhurst et al [ 96 ] focused on local authorities. Various countries and their different regulations were considered, including Portugal [ 94 ], Singapore [ 93 ], the United Kingdom [ 96 ], and Texas in the United States [ 97 ]. Furthermore, Evagelopoulos et al [ 95 ] developed special applications to assess air quality which determine the prevailing indoor air quality and present the obtained results with visual effects.…”

“…Air quality management represents the smallest topic in our sample with n = 653 references (12.9% valid). Air quality was examined in different settings: indoor air quality [93][94][95] as well as ambient air quality [96,97].…”

Indoor air quality in primary schools

“…Secondary emissions are chemically or physically bound VOCs and several of these are emitted or formed by different processes under special chemical or physical conditions (Wolkoff, 1999). VOCs are easily released into indoor air and are recognized as the major air pollutants in the indoor air (Guo et al, 2004;Viegas & Prista, 2010). One of the most important sources of VOCs are the consumer products, like wood, paint, food, cleaners, etc.…”