Abstract

Formaldehyde is a chemical widely used in many industrial manufacturing processes due to its high chemical reactivity and good thermal stability. Commonly used building materials like foams, paint and polymer products can contain formaldehyde. Studies indicate that H₂CO can cause a variety of health effects ranging from irritation of eyes, nose, and throat to nausea and headaches at concentrations above 100 ppb. For extended habitation, NASA has set a more stringent spacecraft maximum allowable concentration of 40 ppb for crew exposure from 7 to 180 days. To reduce formaldehyde levels below this concentration, outgassing materials and equipment need to be identified. In order to monitor the concentration and to locate emission sources, the development of an in-situ, real-time, portable gas sensor capable of detecting formaldehyde of sub-ppm levels in air was developed.

© 1998 Optical Society of America