Debra Lynn Dadd

Formaldehyde Absorbers

QUESTION:

Do you know of any product that absorbs formaldehyde? Something that does not just cover the smell. I would like anything, on or off the web.

I've been searching the web for products that claim to absorb Formaldehyde, and so far have only found one. It's SMELLEZE from IMTEK. Do you know anything about it? I've just started using it & so can't tell anything yet, but wonder about it's effectivness because of the trouble I had with IMTEK. They took my money, but never sent the product and would not respond to my e-mail and phone messages. I had to get the BBB after them before they would communicate with me and send the product.

I've been remodeling my bedroom and I'm concerned about Formaldehyde in the wood products and caulks I'm using. After a few days of outgassing, I can't smell anything now, but even below the smell level, It could probably do me harm because I spend 8 hrs sleeping plus the hours I spend remodeling, on the computer, and watching movies (I'm separating the bed from the entertainment center with curtains so hopefully when I go inside the curtains, my mind will accept that it's time to sleep).

I'm a scientific type of person and so don't rely on how I feel to let me know whether something is good or not. I'm going to have to buy an expensive monitor to tell how much Formaldehyde I'm breathing for sure. I can get a one-time moditor for $55, or a continuous one for several hundred. I found a cheap one for about $60, but don't know if I can trust it because it's so much cheaper than the others I've looked at. It's an Oregon Scientific Indoor Air Quality Monitor AR112C. Do you know anything about it or other monitors?

Thanks for any help.
Francis

POSTED BY FRANTHEGARDNER :: IDAHO USA :: 09/06/2006 10:51 AM

DEBRA'S ANSWER:

If I truly wanted to remove formaldehyde from the air in my home, I would use an actual air filter with the proper media designed for that. You can contact any of the air filter websites on Debra's List and they can help you choose an appropriate filter.

As for this SMELLEZE product, I wouldn't trust it. I went to their website and it doesn't say anything about what the product is made of, or what the absorbtive material is (it's basically some material that absorbs odors in a little bag).

I have no personal experience with air testing, but perhaps someone who does will jump in and tell us all about formaldehyde test kits.

Debra :-)

COMMENTS:

As I recall, Sherry Rogers, M.D. sold formaldehyde test kits. I would search Google for contact information and if there isn't info on her website, contact her office. I believe it is in New York. There may be information in her books.

POSTED BY MARY :: CALIFORNIA USA :: 11/04/2006 10:27 AM

Debra, what do you think of the book, How to Grow Fresh Air by Woverton? It talks about using certain houseplants to clear the air of chemicals, including Formaldehyde.

It's one of my favorite books, because I am always in favor of letting Nature do things in her own way. I've been selling this book in Debra's Bookstore at http://debrasbookstore.com/index.php?id=148#B31.

Houseplants remove air pollutants as they go through their natural process of "breathing"--while plants draw in carbon dioxide, they also pick up airborne pollutants through small ipenings called stomates in the leaves. They are very effective at removing gases such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, carbon diocide, nbenzene, sigarette smoke, and ozone, which are harmful for us to breathe, but a gourmet meal for a plant. I love how nature is arranged so that the plants pick up the carbon dioxide we exhale and give back to us the oxygen we need.

The only drawback is that you need a lot of plants to have very much effect. I wouldn't expect houseplants to remove pollutants as effectively as a mechanical air filter, but they will remove some pollutants (and they are a lot quieter!).

The book gives lots of details about which pollutants each plant removes and how much.

POSTED BY CITIGIRL :: CALIFORNIA USA :: 11/24/2006 3:49 PM

There is 100% effective Formaldehyde (HCHO) removal material made by www.seriouslywool.com and it removes Formaldehyde rapidly and permanently. Their materials are successfuly being used with FEMA and Sierra Club projects.
Tim

COMMENT FROM DEBRA: Interesting website. They have HVAC filters made of wool and a "safety blanket," both of which absorb formaldehyde, according to laboratory tests. When you say "rapidly and permanently" I just want to clarify that wool removes formaldehyde rapidly, and permanently in the sense that it stays in the filter, however, if you have an emitting source of formaldehyde, it will continue to emit and continue to need to be removed. They also have sound-deadening wool floor underlayment.

POSTED BY TIM :: GEORGIA USA :: 03/30/2009 8:20 AM

Debra,

Thank you for this topic,I've been wondering how I can remove the smell of cigarette smoke out of the walls: I just do not like breathing it & love the idea of using something as natural as plants. I will have to have my husband come visit UR link in regards to this, as we bought a home & need to fill it with plants.

Again, Thank You.
Cyndi

POSTED BY CYNDI :: ARIZONA USA :: 04/03/2009 10:12 AM

Hi everyone!

This is a wonderful topic. I personally like the idea of using plants as Formaldehyde absorbers. Check out this link: http://cleantechnica.com/2009/03/26/diy-how-to-grow-your-own-fresh-air/

They have been studying the effects of this plant for 15 years!!!! It is great!!!!!

I hope this helps! Happy breathing!

Sincerely,
Takiyah

POSTED BY TAKIYAH :: OREGON USA :: 04/20/2009 9:57 AM

Debra and list members. I am interested in using house plants to oxygenate and filter out voc's and such. But have heard that plants can also attract mold, which I am more sensitive too and I live in a somewhat humid area as well. There used to be website (the Oxy Store) years ago that had a list of house plants that did not attract mold and were good for filtering the air, but alas it is gone and I've lost the information. Does anyone know anything about what plants may or may not attract or grow mold? Or what plants a person with mold sensitivity could grow in their house? And also how best to care for your plants so that they don't grow mold? Many thanks.

POSTED BY SAM :: MARYLAND USA :: 04/20/2009 9:58 AM

Formaldehyde Vapor Monitor Badge used in US and abroad for more than 200,000 tests of formaldehyde in homes and in the work place since 2003. Exposure for 24 to 48 hours. Return to lab for analysis and report. Price includes testing: $39.00. Minimum level less than 5 parts per billion.
Advanced Chemical Sensors Co. is an accredited laboratory for analysis. www.acsbadge.com

(888) 338-4230

POSTED BY LAURENCE D. LOCKER :: ADVANCED CHEMICAL SENSORS CO. :: WWW.ACSBADGE.COM :: FLORIDA USA :: 09/28/2009 8:35 AM

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