Ask HN: How do I deal with high levels of formaldehyde in my apartment?
10 comments
This has to come, from what your place is made of or where it stands, as aritmo mentioned in his bad cleanup situation he found.
In LV chances are it is various formaldehyde outgassers. The main ones are UFFI = Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation and numerous plastics made with phenol and formaldehyde. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urea-formaldehyde
UFFI is a prolific outgasser of formaldehyde because of 3 reasons, 1 - a stoichiometric excess of formaldehyde to drive to extinction the remanent urea. 2 - badly employed people/equipment 3 - gradual decomposition of the foam over time.
UFFI was touted as a good way to seal and retro insulate older houses via foam injection into hole drilled in residential wall gaps - often in the 1-2" range, but could be more. All worked well, people were told the stink of free formaldehyde was fade over time. This was true, but the time was long and the summer bakeout by sunlight on the walls returned. Many were sensitive to formaldehyde. Government here outlawed this government approved insulation and many people received grants to remove it - a very difficult process. it has largely faded as formaldehyde is volatile and this was years ago. https://www.csmonitor.com/1981/0917/091704.html
Your levels are low, it may be something else in the air
So was your place foamed years ago or is this a recent home job by the landlord with industrial foam not intended for houses? Search government web sites. and test web sites. https://www.canadianhomeinspection.com/home-reference-librar....
UFFI is a prolific outgasser of formaldehyde because of 3 reasons, 1 - a stoichiometric excess of formaldehyde to drive to extinction the remanent urea. 2 - badly employed people/equipment 3 - gradual decomposition of the foam over time.
UFFI was touted as a good way to seal and retro insulate older houses via foam injection into hole drilled in residential wall gaps - often in the 1-2" range, but could be more. All worked well, people were told the stink of free formaldehyde was fade over time. This was true, but the time was long and the summer bakeout by sunlight on the walls returned. Many were sensitive to formaldehyde. Government here outlawed this government approved insulation and many people received grants to remove it - a very difficult process. it has largely faded as formaldehyde is volatile and this was years ago. https://www.csmonitor.com/1981/0917/091704.html
Your levels are low, it may be something else in the air
So was your place foamed years ago or is this a recent home job by the landlord with industrial foam not intended for houses? Search government web sites. and test web sites. https://www.canadianhomeinspection.com/home-reference-librar....
They added vinyl flooring and new appliances right before I moved in. I’m unsure about foam but I can ask. This building is from the 90s if I remember correctly.
Is 300ppb considered low? I am currently keeping the levels below 150ppb by keeping the windows all wide open which is difficult for long with the desert heat.
Is 300ppb considered low? I am currently keeping the levels below 150ppb by keeping the windows all wide open which is difficult for long with the desert heat.
Get a counter current air exchanger. It vents cool inside air to the outside along a heat conducting surface that contacts the hot outside air to the inside, with only 5-8% heat import.
Here are some explainers as well as some DIY methods.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=make+counter+cu...
Work space is 0.37 ml/ m^3
living space is 0.1 in Germany.
Translates to roughly 370 and 100 ppb over the thump.
If I'm not mistaken.
So this isn't nice, cause you touch upon the threshold. You keep an eye on it and you are aware. So you will be fine hopefully it drops further. Your body also produces this stuff, so there are urine tests I think.
It can also come from candles and cleaning agents.
If I'm not mistaken.
So this isn't nice, cause you touch upon the threshold. You keep an eye on it and you are aware. So you will be fine hopefully it drops further. Your body also produces this stuff, so there are urine tests I think.
It can also come from candles and cleaning agents.
There was a post a few years back of some other substance that was affecting a tenant or owner. In their case, they found out in the very end that the apartments were actually built on former industrial/military space that was not properly cleaned up. It was a very detailed article and was posted here.
Your lucky day. The post
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26688965
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26688965
I believe it is usually furniture (anything built with particle board) that keeps off gassing formaldehyde in normal households.
Depending on how your apartment was built, the walls themselves could be particle board.
To be clear it is not the wood, it's the glue that holds the wood together.
If you're going to complain you need professional air quality sampling by a certified professional. They can also provide advice and interpret the readings.
That's gonna cost money but that's the only way you'll get any evidence one way or another.
That's gonna cost money but that's the only way you'll get any evidence one way or another.
What sort of professional am I looking for? I don’t mind spending money.
search: >OSHA:'formaldehyde level'< :@DDG : <https://html.duckduckgo.com/html/?q=OSHA:'formaldehyde level...>
I bought the air quality monitor after my cat developed asthma and started having daily attacks.
Screenshot of formaldehyde levels: https://i.imgur.com/IziHpBu.png
It rises to 300ppb at night and when I open all windows it drops to around 70ppb. Using the air conditioning increases it to around 100ppb.
Dashboard of all the air quality readings: https://www.uradmonitor.com/tools/dashboard-04/?open=820003B5
I just wanted opinions on what I'm supposed to do as a tenant and maybe a reality check. Am I overreacting?
I’m based in Las Vegas, NV.