Air purifiers may not get rid of that 'new house smell'

Better to opt for green building materials, ventilate confined spaces

- Osmond Chia

There is "limited data" on whether air purifiers are effective in removing formaldehyde, the chemical that causes the "new house smell", said the National Environment Agency (NEA).

It urged consumers to be cautious when choosing an air purifier to remove formaldehyde, and said they should first opt for environmentally friendly building materials and ventilate confined spaces to clear the chemical.

Experts told The Straits Times that while air cleaners can clear formaldehyde, they questioned the effectiveness of the devices in most household settings as airflow and room size, among other factors, can affect the removal of the chemical.

The experts and NEA were responding to ST's queries about advertisements from various manufacturers claiming that their air purifiers can remove formaldehyde.

The ads include those from Xiaomi, Dyson, Plasma Science and Sterra.

Home-grown company Sterra claimed in a Facebook ad that its Sterra Breeze Pro air purifier could "permanently remove formaldehyde 2x better than others".

The chemical, often found in resins and glues used in wooden furniture, as well as in composite wood products such as plywood and fibreboard, can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, with long-term exposure linked to certain cancers.

NEA said: “As there is currently limited data on the effectiveness of air purifiers in removing volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde, occupants (of affected spaces) are advised to, first and foremost, reduce sources of formaldehyde indoors by choosing low-emission building products that are certified with the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme or the Singapore Green Building Product Certification Scheme."

The schemes are certifications for products made in an environmentally friendly way.