A study of conventional formaldehyde fumigation methods

The currently recommended methods for the formaldehyde fumigation of rooms have been studied with the aid of an instrument designed to monitor the temperature, humidity and formaldehyde concentration. The results show that although the procedures are generally effective as measured by microbiological methods the conditions within the areas treated are not those expected from calculations based on the room volume and the amount of formaldehyde used. The measured formaldehyde levels in particular are much lower than predicted and indicate that formaldehyde vapour may be effective at lower concentrations than previously supposed.