Formaldehyde tests determine the level of the chemical in the air and recommend corrective actions if high levels are found. It is commonly used in glued wood products and can emit a strong odor. Prolonged exposure can cause health problems, especially in people with asthma. Home test kits are available.
Testing for formaldehyde involves taking a sample of the air to determine the level of the gas in the air where people live or work. The test can be done by a trained professional or via a purchased test kit that is sent to a laboratory for analysis. The formaldehyde test determines if the chemical is present in a home, business or workplace and at what levels. If high levels are found, professional air quality testers commonly recommend corrective actions to reduce the risk of health problems.
The fix could be as simple as providing more ventilation. If dangerously high levels of formaldehyde are recorded, removal of products containing the chemical may be recommended. Government regulatory agencies commonly set safety standards to address formaldehyde and other contaminants in the environment that could have an adverse effect on health.
Formaldehyde is a common material used in products found in homes and commercial buildings. It is normally used in glued wood products, such as particleboard and furniture made from these materials. The chemical usually remains in the bound product, but can produce emissions known as free-forming formaldehyde. Formaldehyde tests can detect whether chemical emissions have polluted the air.
The chemical also shows up in automobile exhaust, tobacco smoke, and smoke from fireplaces and wood-burning stoves. Other common sources of formaldehyde may exist in carpeting and some fabrics. It is a colorless, natural chemical that can emit a strong odor when present indoors at high levels. The amount of formaldehyde is generally strongest right after the products are manufactured and can decrease over time.
Prolonged or repeated exposure to formaldehyde can cause health problems, especially in people with asthma. They may have trouble breathing, coughing, throat or nose irritation, and tears in their eyes. The chemical is considered a carcinogen because it has caused cancer in laboratory animals, but the risk to humans from exposure at home is considered low by some experts.
Home formaldehyde test kits consist of monitoring devices that are left in an area for a minimum of 24 hours. The collection devices are sent to a laboratory which analyzes the level of formaldehyde present in the environment. A written report explaining the results is commonly provided to the user. Home formaldehyde test kits are also available to determine if the chemical is present in your water; these kits routinely use sodium sulfite and hydrochloric acid which causes the water to change color if formaldehyde is present.
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