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What’s in the air?
Aldehydes

Everyone is familiar with the typical smell of a new car. Among the substances that enter our noses in vehicle cabins are aldehydes. These gaseous substances are primarily released by plastics and textiles. In high concentrations, aldehydes can adversely affect health.

Aldehydes are everywhere. In their natural form, the organic compounds are produced as aromatic substances, e.g., when apples ripen, when you slice a cucumber or when grape juice ferments into wine. They are characterized by a carbonyl group consisting of a carbon atom double-bonded to oxygen and single-bonded to hydrogen. This functional group gives aldehydes their distinctive chemical properties and makes them prone to being released into the air.

However, their properties and their good solubility in water also make them a popular choice for industrial applications. Aldehydes are used to form the basis for dyes and synthetic resins, as well as for cleaning and disinfection. They can also be found in pharmaceuticals and ensure that textiles retain their shape.

Image of car interior



Aldehydes in car interior
 

Parts such as seats, steering wheels, and polyurethane interior lining are responsible for emitting aldehydes in vehicle cabins.

In such cases, the aldehydes form as a result of an oxidation reaction under the influence of heat, light, and atmospheric oxygen to create that typical new car smell. Seat covers can also release certain amounts of aldehyde into the ambient air depending on the material and way they are manufactured. Although the industry has been able to significantly reduce the amount of aldehydes released from the materials used, those gaseous substances can quickly accumulate in the air of unventilated vehicle interiors.

The effect on health

Small amounts of aldehyde in the air do not pose a problem to humans.

However, these highly reactive substances can quickly engage with our mucous membranes, trigger inflammatory processes, and cause allergic reactions. Depending on the level of sensitization, a relatively low level of exposure to the air can be all it takes. As little as 60 µg/m3 formaldehyde can cause eye irritation – the equivalent of just one fine grain of sand.

The following effects on health are typical of exposure to high concentrations of aldehyde:

  • Irritation of the eyes and nose: Aldehydes can cause redness, itching, watery eyes, and nasal congestion.
  • Respiratory tract irritation: Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in particular can cause coughing, throat irritation, and shortness of breath.
  • Exacerbation of asthma symptoms: Prolonged exposure can trigger attacks in asthmatics and exacerbate existing breathing problems.
  • Neurological effects: Repeated exposure to aldehydes such as formaldehyde is associated with cognitive impairment and neuro-developmental disorders.
  • Systemic effects: Symptoms such as tiredness, headaches, concentration problems, and a general feeling of malaise may occur.
Image of the micronAir Gas Shield

Reducing aldehydes for
improved safety

For drivers, an increased concentration of aldehydes in the air also poses an increased safety risk due to watery eyes and poor concentration. The odor caused by aldehydes may also make driving less pleasurable. This makes it all the more important to protect yourself from high levels of contaminated air. One way to do this is with plenty of fresh air and high-performance cabin air filters such as the micronAir proTect line, which effectively filters and adsorbs aldehydes from the air.

The micronAir Gas Shield selection was specifically designed to protect the passengers from harmful gases. The pre-formulated activated carbon option of our micronAir premium protection filters offers additional protection against aldehydes. As a result, our solutions improve air quality and create greater well-being for passengers worldwide.

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