Maintaining optimal indoor air quality is essential for ensuring environmental health and safety within constructed spaces.

One prevalent indoor air pollutant that poses direct risks to the eyes, respiratory system, and the central nervous system is Formaldehyde.

It causes symptoms such as headache, dizziness, tearing, and nausea. Even worse, some research has linked it to various cancers.

Fortunately, researchers at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology have developed a device capable of breaking down formaldehyde into less harmful substances.

According to the World Health Organization, formaldehyde concentration in indoor air space should be strictly regulated at 0.1 parts per million.

However, some studies have shown that formaldehyde levels found in some enclosed areas exceed the WHO’s recommendation.

The device known as Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) reactor uses electrical energy to break down formaldehyde into less harmful substances like carbon dioxide and water.

The results of the study published in the journal scientific reports indicated that the device efficiently removed low-concentration formaldehyde by 99%.

The removal efficiency can also be increased by increasing the exerted voltage hence discharge power within the range that the reactor can endure,” said lead researchers, Drs. Prince Junior Asilevi and Patrick Boakye.