Formaldehyde: the invisible indoor pollutant
From that familiar fresh paint smell to the unboxing of new furniture – odours associated with these seemingly harmless home improvements are usually an indication that a substance has been released into the air. And while the smell of new paint might fade over time, the emission of potentially harmful gases, such as formaldehyde, can persist. Pollutants like these can continuously ‘off-gas’ for a number of years – but what exactly is formaldehyde and why is it in our homes?
Sorry, but the video player isn't currently keyboard accessible. We're upgrading our player to improve this. Please email askdyson@dyson.ie or contact 01-475-7109 if you would like further help, or to see the information in an alternative format.
Please see our Accessibility Statement for more information.
-
What is formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is a colourless gas pollutant, which can be released by furniture and wooden products containing formaldehyde-based resins. Materials such a plywood and fibreboard, insulation and do-it-yourself products such as paint, wallpapers, varnishes and household cleaning products can all release formaldehyde.
Being 500 times smaller than 0.1 microns, formaldehyde is particularly difficult to capture and, when left undetected, can be trapped in a home for years.
Research indicates that the main source of indoor formaldehyde pollution in China comes from the gas being released after decorating a home. If left alone, it has been reported to persist for between three to 15 years due to continuous off-gassing¹.
-
Is exposure to formaldehyde dangerous?
The impact of formaldehyde has been widely reported by the World Health Organisation and other research bodies, with some governmental institutions setting formaldehyde safety limitations and regulating its usage.
While in-home formaldehyde readings at any given time may appear low, potential continuous exposure through off-gassing can sometimes occur over multiple years. This is particularly relevant for homes that have been recently renovated. In a 2019 report, it was found that 50% of Chinese households have indoor formaldehyde concentrations exceeding international and local standards of 0.10mg/m3². A different study released in the same year, revealed that in a fifth of the 47 UK homes tested for the pollutant showed move than double the levels deemed safe³. In fact, US authorities such as Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claim that there are small amounts of formaldehyde in almost all homes⁴.
Formaldehyde levels within homes can be exacerbated by how well sealed they are, as a well-sealed home can trap indoor pollutants. This can result in greater exposure over time.
-
What can you do to reduce formaldehyde within your home?
As well as selecting DIY and renovation products that don’t contain formaldehyde, increasing ventilation and using purification within a space can help to remove the gas from your home. Dyson’s new Purifier Formaldehyde range not only sense formaldehyde with their intelligent solid-state sensor, but they also destroy it, using Dyson’s Selective Catalytic Oxidisation (SCO) filter.
Some formaldehyde sensors are gel-based, so can dry out over time, causing the precision and performance of the sensor to deteriorate. Dyson’s formaldehyde sensor is solid-state, and so doesn’t dry out, lasting the lifetime of the machine. Its intelligent algorithm precisely senses formaldehyde levels without confusing it with other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
As well as sensing formaldehyde, Dyson’s SCO filter captures and destroys the pollutant at a molecular level, breaking it down into tiny amounts of water and CO2. It then regenerates from the oxygen in the air to keep destroying it continuously without ever requiring replacement.
Formaldehyde levels detected by the Dyson Purifier Formaldehyde are reported via the LCD screen and the Dyson Link App. This helps to reassure the user that the invisible pollutant is being captured and destroyed, supporting a healthier indoor space.
Choose your model
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool™ HP09 Formaldehyde (White / Gold)
610
Reviews
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool™ HP09 Formaldehyde (White / Gold)
5
Star
412
4
Star
95
3
Star
37
2
Star
19
1
Star
47
Purifies, heats and cools you. HEPA 13 filter captures 99.95% of pollutants as small as 0.1 microns.² Even destroys formaldehyde.³
Connects to the MyDyson™ app
H 764mm x L 200mm x W 248mm
2 accessories included
See all Hide-
360° Glass HEPA and Activated Carbon Filter
Sealed HEPA filter made from borosilicate microfibres, pleated hundreds of times, to capture 99.95% of ultrafine particles³ with activated carbon filter to remove gases and odours.
-
Remote control
€749.99
Price includes VAT
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool™ (White/Silver)
166
Reviews
Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool™ (White/Silver)
5
Star
117
4
Star
26
3
Star
10
2
Star
2
1
Star
11
HEPA H13 purifier, fan and heater. Ideal for larger spaces.
Automatically senses and displays real-time air quality.
Control using the Dyson Link app and compatible voice services.
2 accessories included
See all Hide-
Remote control
Curved and magnetised to store neatly on the machine
-
360° Glass HEPA and Activated Carbon Filter
Sealed HEPA filter made from borosilicate microfibres, pleated hundreds of times, to capture 99.95% of ultrafine particles³ with activated carbon filter to remove gases and odours.
Out of stock.
Price includes VAT
Dyson Purifier Cool™ (White/Silver)
227
Reviews
Dyson Purifier Cool™ (White/Silver)
5
Star
144
4
Star
42
3
Star
21
2
Star
8
1
Star
12
HEPA H13 purifier and fan. Ideal for larger spaces.
Automatically senses and displays real-time air quality.
Control using the Dyson Link app and compatible voice services.
2 accessories included
See all Hide-
Remote control
Curved and magnetised to store neatly on the machine
-
360° Glass HEPA and Activated Carbon Filter
Sealed HEPA filter made from borosilicate microfibres, pleated hundreds of times, to capture 99.95% of ultrafine particles³ with activated carbon filter to remove gases and odours.
Price includes VAT
Dyson Pure Cool Me™ (White/Silver)
300
Reviews
Dyson Pure Cool Me™ (White/Silver)
5
Star
202
4
Star
66
3
Star
13
2
Star
9
1
Star
10
Cools you with purified air
Captures gases, pollutants and allergens
New Dyson Core Flow™ technology
1 accessory included
See all HideRemote control
Curved and magnetised to store neatly on the machine
Out of stock.
€349.99
Price includes VAT
Sorry, but the video player isn't currently keyboard accessible. We're upgrading our player to improve this. Please email askdyson@dyson.ie or contact 01-475-7109 if you would like further help, or to see the information in an alternative format.
Please see our Accessibility Statement for more information.
Estimate your monthly payments
Use our calculator to see your estimated monthly payments over a range of periods. All repayments shown are estimates. Subject to approval, terms apply. Estimate only. Repayments will be confirmed during application.
Here are your estimated repayments:
Representative example. Representative 17.9% APR (variable), purchase rate 17.9% p.a. (variable), £1200 assumed credit limit. Subject to credit approval. Finance provided by PayPal Credit. Selected Dyson.co.uk instalment purchases qualify for 14.9% p.a. for a fixed period depending on the length of the term selected. For example a £1200 purchase split over 24 monthly payments at 14.9% p.a. would cost £57.60 per month. Choose a monthly instalment plan with PayPal Credit up to 24 months to suit your budget. Dyson Limited acts as a credit broker and offers finance from PayPal Credit, a trading name of PayPal (Europe) S.à r.l. et Cie, S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal, L-2449, Luxembourg. Terms and conditions apply. Subject to status.
Promotion
[1] Chinese Home Indoor Formaldehyde White Paper, CHEARI, 2019.
[2] Chinese Home Indoor Formaldehyde White Paper, CHEARI, 2019.
[3] Airtopia, Clean Air Day, 2019.
[4] Formaldehyde in your home- what you need to know, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
Press contacts
-
Isabel Matthews
-
Dyson Newsroom
The latest news from Dyson