Effect of environmental conditions on re-emission of formaldehyde from textile materials

Furnishing textile materials may be a source of formaldehyde (CH2O) re-emission if this compound is present in the environment. In the examinations performed the effect of temperature (23 degrees C, 35 degrees C) and air humidity (RH: 45%, 85%) upon CH2O re-emission from curtain materials was determined. The source of CH2O emission was particle board. CH2O emission was determined in small glass chambers (13.08 dm3) in controlled conditions, one air exchange per hour at loading factor of 1 m2/m3. The results of these examinations showed that the effect of temperature and humidity upon CH2O adsorption and desorption was different. Increase of temperature from 25 degrees C to 35 degrees C caused increase of the magnitude and rate of CH2O re-emission and the phenomenon intensified at high air humidity.