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Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde, a colorless, pungent smelling gas, can cause watery
eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and
difficulty in breathing in some humans exposed at elevated levels
(above 0.1 parts per million). High concentrations may trigger
attacks in people with asthma. There is evidence that some people
can develop a sensitivity to formaldehyde. It has also been shown
to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans.
Sources of formaldehyde in
the home include: building
materials, smoking, household products, use of unvented fuel
burning appliances like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters.
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Formaldehyde, by itself or in combination
with other chemicals, serves a number of purposes in manufactured
products. For example, it is used to add permanent press qualities
to clothing and draperies, as a component of glues and adhesives,
and as a preservative in some paints and coating products. |
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In homes, the most significant sources
of formaldehyde are likely to be:
- pressed wood products made using
adhesives that contain ureaformaldehyde resins.
- particle board (used as sub
flooring and shelving and in cabinetry and furniture)
- hardwood plywood paneling (used
for decorative wall covering and used in cabinets and furniture)
- medium density fiberboard (used
for drawer fronts, cabinets, and furniture tops). Medium density:
fiberboard contains a higher resin to wood ratio than any other
UF pressed wood product and is generally recognized as being
the highest formaldehyde emitting pressed wood product.
Other pressed wood products,
such as softwood plywood and flake or oriented strand board,
are produced for exterior construction use and contain the dark,
or red/black colored phenolformaldehyde (PF) resin. Although
formaldehyde is present in both types of resins, pressed woods
that contain PF resin generally emit formaldehyde at considerably
lower rates than those containing UF resin.
The rate at which products like
pressed wood or textiles release formaldehyde can change. Formaldehyde
emissions will generally decrease as products age.
When the products are new, high
indoor temperatures or humidity can cause increased release of
formaldehyde from these products.
List Of Air Cleaning Plants
- Azalea
- Chrysanthemum
- Golden Pothos
- Spider Plants
- Philodendron
- Dieffenbachia
- English Ivy
- Peace Lily
- Gerbera Daisy
- Warneckei
- Cyclamens
- Tulips
- Prayer Plants
- Christmas Cactus
- Fig Tree
The best plants to remove
household pollutants are:
- Chrysanthemum
- Spider Plant
- Peace Lily
- Gerbera Daisy
It is best to use a variety of
plants, and have one to two plants per 100 square feet. The more
plants you have the better the air quality.
Remember....
Indoor houseplants should not
be over watered because overly damp soil may promote the growth
of microorganisms which can affect allergic individuals. |
