VOCs, also known as volatile organic compounds, are compounds that contain high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Common VOC sources include things like paints, cleaning agents, new carpets and new furniture. VOCs can pose a severe health risk indoors, where their concentrations are typically much higher than outdoors. Learn about the sources of VOCs, their harms on the body, and how to protect against volatile organic compounds here.
Companies sell activated carbon filters (also called “charcoal filters” or “carbon air filters”) to remove chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene, but does carbon really work to remove VOCs? The Smart Air lab put real-world carbon air filters to the test. Who Needs Carbon Filters Anyway? I wrote early on that …
The use of essential oil diffusers such as the popular “Air Wick Essential Mist Diffuser” can be extremely relaxing. Many essential oils such as lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus are touted to have a variety of benefits ranging from pain relief to boosting your mood. But can essential oil diffusers actually …
PM2.5 and PM10 are the two types of air pollution that the WHO estimates affect “more people than any other pollutant,” but they are different. Here’s how the two contrast. PM2.5 Meaning PM2.5 (Particulate Matter 2.5): “PM” refers to particulate matter—particles in the air. PM2.5 are tiny airborne particles with a …
Cigarette smoke smell and the dangerous pollutants in secondhand smoke can be extremely unpleasant. The health danger is serious, with a study showing one cigarette produces 10 times the amount of dangerous particulates than a diesel car. So how can we remove the cigarette smoke smell and the cancer-causing pollutants …
Newly renovated apartments and offices typically have high levels of formaldehyde. One of the most effective ways of removing formaldehyde is to run a formaldehyde cookout. But what is a formaldehyde cookout and how do you run one? In this article, we show how to run a cookout in your …
Lots of companies will sell you formaldehyde sensors, but a simple test you can do at home will reveal they are fakes. Formaldehyde detectors routinely react to lots of common gases that are not formaldehyde, making the numbers impossible to interpret. Given that unfortunate fact, here’s what you can do …
Does activated carbon filters remove formaldehyde and VOCs? Earlier tests from Smart Air found that carbon does reduce VOCs from cigarette smoke. But formaldehyde and VOCs in general are particular concern for many people. We put activated carbon filters to the test by ordering formaldehyde straight from the factory and …
Can Plants Filter Out Formaldehyde and Benzene VOCs?
An important question about formaldehyde is how long it takes for formaldehyde to off-gas in new homes and new furniture–how long will it take for levels to get back to normal? The best data I’ve seen suggests formaldehyde takes about two years to off-gas back to normal levels. What is …
Renovations can often lead to increased formaldehyde and VOC levels in recently renovated homes and offices. This often leads to what is called ‘Sick Building Syndrome’, causing headaches when in these spaces. Whilst carbon filters prove highly effective in eliminating formaldehyde from the air, they don’t remove formaldehyde and other …
