Inspiration
During the winter vacation of 2022, a member of our team embarked on an internship at an educational institution. However, during the internship, he noticed a potent and unpleasant odor in one of the institution's unused classrooms. Once entering the room, it quickly induced headaches and discomfort. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that the classroom had recently undergone renovation and was currently in the ventilation phase, with the pungent odor most likely attributable to formaldehyde. The institution's manager explained that, in order to ensure the safety of the students during classes, the classroom typically required 3-6 months of ventilation, alongside the use of activated carbon and other formaldehyde absorption tools.
Following this discussion, the manager expressed their ongoing quest for a safe and efficient formaldehyde removal method, with little success in finding a more reliable solution than prolonged ventilation in the market. Hearing this, our team member also reflected on the formaldehyde issue in his newly decorated home.
Inspired by this incident, we conducted comprehensive research into all available formaldehyde removal methods in the market, ultimately leading to a bold hypothesis - that biological formaldehyde removal might be the optimal solution to address formaldehyde problems.
Background
Formaldehyde, an economically significant chemical, is a colorless volatile toxic gas classified as a human carcinogen, leading to diseases like nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. As China stands as the world's largest consumer of formaldehyde, the risk of formaldehyde exposure among its population has increased significantly [1]. In daily life, indoor air pollution is a primary reason for people being exposed to formaldehyde. In recent years, indoor formaldehyde pollution in China has been on the rise, with the contamination spreading and concentrations remaining high. This issue is particularly severe in newly decorated homes [2][3].
According to relevant studies, after six months of moving into a newly decorated house, the median health risk decreases by 40%, and after one year, it drops by a further 60% [3][4]. Most formaldehyde is released by 2 years [8]. With the well-being of the nation in mind, finding efficient and safe methods to remove formaldehyde is becoming increasingly urgent.
Problems
The significant negative impacts associated with the current formaldehyde-related problems can be categorized into two main areas: health risks and environmental concerns.
Health Risks
-Respiratory Issues: Prolonged exposure to elevated levels of formaldehyde can lead to various respiratory problems, including coughing, throat irritation, wheezing, and exacerbation of asthma symptoms.
-Carcinogenicity:The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has categorized formaldehyde as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is classified as the highest level of carcinogenicity to humans and has been linked to cancers such as nasopharyngeal cancer and sinonasal cancer [5][6].
-Allergic Reactions: Some individuals may be hypersensitive to formaldehyde, causing skin rashes, eye irritation, and other allergic reactions upon exposure.
Environmental Concerns
With the rapid development of the formaldehyde industry in China, we are facing unprecedented environment concerns [1]. The rapid production and utilization of formaldehyde are accompanied by substantial formaldehyde emissions, which pose a severe threat to overall environmental health in China. These emissions not only contaminate indoor air but also have adverse effects on outdoor air quality. This pollution threatens ecosystems, biodiversity, and potentially impacts soil and water quality.
Existing Methods
After understanding the problems brought by formaldehyde, we conducted an extensive market survey and examined the various formaldehyde removal products currently available. These products can be broadly categorized into three types: activated carbon, photocatalysts, and negative ion generators.
Activated Carbon
These products are among the most common and cost-effective formaldehyde removal solutions available in the market. They rely on the potent adsorption properties of activated carbon to eliminate formaldehyde. However, they come with certain limitations: firstly, they can only adsorb but not break down harmful gases, potentially leading to secondary pollution. Additionally, their adsorption capacity is limited, requiring frequent replacement. Furthermore, activated carbon itself may contain harmful substances like heavy metals, which can be harmful to human health [7].
Photocatalyst
Photocatalysts utilize nano-titanium dioxide to catalyze the decomposition of formaldehyde when exposed to ultraviolet or visible light. Nevertheless, they have their own set of limitations: they depend on a light source, making them unsuitable for dark areas, and they may contain potentially harmful substances like nanoparticles, which pose potential health risks. Moreover, the efficiency of photocatalysts in decomposing formaldehyde is also not consistently high.
Negative Ion Generator
These devices purify the air by generating negative ions and can effectively remove formaldehyde while offering additional benefits such as promoting beauty and enhancing sleep. However, the concentration and distribution of negative ions may be uneven, resulting in limited purification effectiveness. In addition, negative ion generators themselves may emit harmful gases like ozone, which can be detrimental to human health. It's worth noting that the cost of this device can be quite high.
Our Solution
Having gained a comprehensive understanding of the dangers associated with formaldehyde and the current market offerings for formaldehyde removal, we have made the decision to provide an efficient, safe, convenient, and cost-effective bio-formaldehyde removal device. Within this meticulously designed device(more details in Hardware page), we've integrated modified engineering(more details in Design page) bacteria. These engineered bacteria have been modified to contain enzyme systems such as formaldehyde dehydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase, enabling them to effectively oxidize and break down hazardous formaldehyde into harmless carbon dioxide and water. Our formaldehyde removal device is intended for use in freshly renovated environments, in conjunction with proper ventilation, to optimize formaldehyde elimination and safeguard human health.
References
[1] Tang, X., Bai, Y., Duong, A., Smith, M. T., Li, L., & Zhang, L. (2009). Formaldehyde in China: production, consumption, exposure levels, and health effects. Environment international, 35(8), 1210-1224.
[2] 罗晓红, & 顾艳. (2011). 室内甲醛污染对人类健康影响的研究进展. 职业与健康, 27(21), 2501-2503.
[3] Liang, W. (2021). Long-term indoor formaldehyde variations and health risk assessment in Chinese urban residences following renovation. Building and Environment, 206, 108402.
[4] Song, J., Feng, G., Huang, K., Sun, W., Li, H., & Li, G. (2022). Characteristics of Formaldehyde Pollution in Residential Buildings in a Severe Cold Area—A Case in Liaoning, China. Atmosphere, 13(11), 1798.
[5] Khoshakhlagh, A. H., Chuang, K. J., & Kumar, P. (2023). Health risk assessment of exposure to ambient formaldehyde in carpet manufacturing industries. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(6), 16386-16397.
[6] Soltanpour, Z., Mohammadian, Y., & Fakhri, Y. (2022). The exposure to formaldehyde in industries and health care centers: A systematic review and probabilistic health risk assessment. Environmental Research, 204, 112094.
[7] Rong, H., Ryu, Z., Zheng, J., & Zhang, Y. (2003). Influence of heat treatment of rayon-based activated carbon fibers on the adsorption of formaldehyde. Journal of colloid and interface science, 261(2), 207-212.
[8] Park, J. S., & Ikeda, K. (2006). Variations of formaldehyde and VOC levels during 3 years in new and older homes. Indoor air, 16(2), 129-135.
[9] Sakson, P. (2021). Signs of formaldehyde in a child care center- and what to do about it. Retrieved from https://paulsakson.com/blog/what-does-formaldehyde-smell-like
[10] Gao, F., Yue, X., Yang, H., Yang, Y., Lam, S., Peng, W., and Chen, X. (2023). "Health damage and repair mechanism related to formaldehyde released from wood-based panels," BioResources 18(1), 2426-2439.
[11] Where is formaldehyde in the home? - the chemistry blog. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.chemicals.co.uk/blog/where-is-formaldehyde-in-the-home