ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the formaldehyde pollution in the indoor air in some newly decorated houses in Beijing and analyze the dynamic changes in order to find the change law of formaldehyde. Methods 54 residences were randomly chosen in Beijing to monitor the formaldehyde levels. The temperature and humidity were recorded at the same time. Covariance analysis was used to analyze the influence of temperature and humidity on formaldehyde pollution levels. Results In six consecutive months of monitoring after the decoration, the monthly average concentrations of formaldehyde in the indoor air were 0.04 mg/m3, 0.04 mg/m3, 0.13 mg/m3, 0.15 mg/m3, 0.02 mg/m3 and 0.03 mg/m3 respectively. The influence of temperature and humidity on formaldehyde levels was significant. Conclusion The formaldehyde level in the indoor air after decoration is mainly affected by the season and time. Residents should open the windows more often and it is suggested to live in the newly decorated houses in six months as the decoration finished.