Monitoring Low Levels of Formaldehyde in Ambient Air

Gasera’s disruptive analyser, the GASERA ONE FORMALDEHYDE is based on photoacoustic spectroscopy. It offers an affordable and easy-to-use instrument for continuous monitoring of formaldehyde. Detection limit of the analyser is below 1 ppb and it monitors even the slightest changes created by traffic emissions, wood products, building materials or industrial activities.

Formaldehyde can cause acute health problem

Formaldehyde is an ozone precursor and classified as carcinogenic compound even at low level concentrations. In view of its widespread use, toxicity, and volatility, formaldehyde poses a significant danger to human health. Typical outdoor background level is a few ppb. Levels above 100 ppb can cause acute health problems.

We are exposed to formaldehyde every day

Since formaldehyde is a by-product of combustion and other inherent processes, it can be found in both small and significant concentrations in various environments. Industrial emissions, traffic, building materials, cooking, and tobacco smoking are sources of formaldehyde. Also many everyday products, such as cosmetics, furniture and detergents contain formaldehyde. High levels of formaldehyde are often found in new homes or homes with new construction. In addition, it is expected that biofuel combustion will have a significant effect on increasing formaldehyde levels, especially in urban areas. Formaldehyde exposure is a special concern for children, elderly, and people with breathing problems, such as asthmatics.

Real-time formaldehyde measurements without consumables at umanned sites

The GASERA ONE FORMALDEHYDE is based on combining the ultra-sensitive cantilever enhanced photoacoustic detection technology with a Quantum Cascade Laser source. This allows operating at a Mid-IR fundamental spectral absorption line for formaldehyde providing below ppb-level limit of detection. The monitor provides enough sensitivity to reliably measure ambient background levels of formaldehyde in real-time and does not require any consumables. It also gives an exceptionally high level of stability with a re-calibration period longer than one year. Thus it offers a low total cost of ownership. The GASERA ONE FORMALDEHYDE is designed to be used at unmanned sites.

“The GASERA ONE FORMALDEHYDE monitor enables reliable real-time indoor measurements of formaldehyde. Unlike the conventional DNPH cartridge method, the GASERA ONE FORMALDEHYDE provides measurement data on the screen in less than a minute enabling the study of static and dynamic indoor air quality conditions possible on site”, says Dr. Olavi Vaittinen from Inspector Sec. For more information: please visit www.gasera.fi/formaldehyde.