Can activated carbon filters remove formaldehyde and VOCs? Earlier tests from Smart Air found that carbon can reduce VOCs from cigarette smoke. But formaldehyde and VOCs in general are particular concern for many people. We put activated carbon filters to the test by ordering formaldehyde straight from the factory and testing it against carbon filters. […]
Tag: activated carbon
Do Air Purifiers Dry Out the Air?
Empirical data shows that air purifiers are great at cleaning air, but do they dry out the air and lead to other health problems? For me, dry air is mostly just a comfort issue. But for some people, dry air can exacerbate health problems like allergies and bronchitis. Do HEPA Filters Lower Humidity? To test […]

What Combination of Air Filters Do I Need to Protect Against Everything?
What combination of air filters do I need to protect against everything? This will sound like a grand claim, but two filters are all you need. Here’s why (with data). Very Reasonable Reasons To Be Skeptical Why might you be skeptical? For one, big purifier companies are in an arms race to tell you […]

The Best Way to Remove Formaldehyde and VOC Chemicals From Your Home
There’s a lot of noise about how to remove formaldehyde and VOC chemical build up in homes. Here are three scientific, data-backed ways to reduce and filter formaldehyde in the home. Method 1: Open a window Researchers have found that even in developed urban areas, outdoor concentrations of formaldehyde are near zero. The only […]

Ozone Pollution: Often Invisible, Always Dangerous
When summer rolls around, enticing blue skies often draw people outside. Throw on top the fact that most cities in China have less PM2.5 pollution in the summer, what’s stopping us from heading outside? Ozone Pollution on Rise Across China Ozone has been on a steady increase across China in recent years. To assess China’s […]

Does Adding a Carbon Layer Reduce Particulate Effectiveness?
I recently published tests showing that carbon actually removes VOCs. But adding that carbon layer raises a question: adding carbon means the fan has to power through yet another layer of resistance. Does that make purifier less effective at removing particulates? Test Method To test this question, I ran 10 room tests with the Cannon and […]
