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One of the major indoor pollutant is formaldehyde, and its major source is from renovation materials. Nowadays, most people spend 90% of their daily time indoors, and modern buildings tend to be airtight; without sufficient fresh air, formaldehyde pollution seems to have become a greater problem.
Throughout the world, all leading countries have reached consensus that interior formaldehyde build-up has to be eliminated, and it is considered as a one of the index to ‘healthy architecture’. Whereas in Taiwan, the law does not clearly prohibit the use of formaldehyde, therefore, materials that easily vaporizes formaldehyde is popularly used among the interior design business, causing Taiwanese to be exposed to highly concentrated formaldehyde environment without knowing the potential effects on mind and body. Therefore, it is an important matter to get rid off interior formaldehyde build-up.
The writer will be discussing about the product ‘chitosan paint’ that is said to get rid of formaldehyde, use ‘plastic wall paper’ as the source of formaldehyde, paint with 3-4 inch wool brushes to apply the paint, and observe the effects of different settings. This research will be conducted within a small scale environmental chamber, to simulate different environmental factors at different amounts of ‘chitosan paint’, or even none. Finally, I will base on the actual observations and data, to assess and cross reference the ability of ‘chitosan paint’ to get rid of formaldehyde on plastic wall paper, and its elements.
The experiments and the test results are concluded as follow:
1. The vaporization of formaldehyde on plastic paper wall without chitosan paint apparently is affected by temperature and humidity. They form a positive relationship. Whether it’s at low temp and low humidity (20°C, 50%) or high temp and high humidity (30°C, 70%), the formaldehyde concentration is over WHO regulation standard of 0.08ppm, and has to be eliminated as it has harmful effects on health.
2. The unpainted parts, whether under low temp low humidity, or high temp high humidity, the level of formaldehyde concentration slowly rises. After twelve continuous hours, the concentration is similar as it is without the paint. This proves that chitosan does have an effect on controlling formaldehyde and not other ingredients of the paint.
3. Under similar humidity conditions, one layer of chitosan paint to control formaldehyde will be influenced by the temperature: the lower the temperature, the better the result. It is even more apparent in highly humid environment.
4. Under the same temperature condition, with one layer of chitosan paint, the effect to control formaldehyde is effected by humidity: the higher the humidity the worst the effect.
5. The paint also plays a vital role when getting rid off formaldehyde, two layers is twice as good as one layer, which is below the WHO regulation standard of 0.08ppm right from the start, and almost free of temperature and humidity factors. Considering long lasting and economical reasons, two layers is recommended.
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