If only a VOC sensor is available and not a formaldehyde sensor, it’s still possible to indirectly assess the potential risk of formaldehyde in indoor environments using some indirect methods with the VOC sensor, despite the inability to directly measure formaldehyde concentrations. Here are several methods:

1. Monitoring Changes in Total VOC Concentrations

• Environmental Change Comparison:Compare the changes in total VOC concentrations in the air at different times (such as after new decoration vs. a few months later) or under different environmental conditions (such as ventilated vs. non-ventilated). A significant increase in VOC concentrations under certain conditions may indicate the risk of formaldehyde or other harmful VOCs being released.
• Activity Response Test:Observe changes in VOC concentrations after specific activities (such as opening the drawers of new furniture or using certain cleaning products). If VOC concentrations significantly rise after the activities, it might indicate that these activities have released formaldehyde or other VOCs.

2. Risk Assessment Combining Other Information

• Indoor Environmental Factors:Consider indoor environmental factors, such as the age of furniture, type of building materials, and time since interior decoration. These factors could affect the release of formaldehyde and other VOCs.
• Health Condition Monitoring:Pay attention to whether people living or using the environment exhibit health problems possibly related to formaldehyde exposure, such as eye irritation, respiratory issues, etc.

3. Taking Preventive Measures

• Enhancing Ventilation:Even if it’s impossible to accurately measure formaldehyde concentrations, improving indoor ventilation is an effective way to reduce concentrations of all types of VOCs.
• Using Air Purifiers:Choosing air purifiers equipped with activated carbon filters can help adsorb formaldehyde and other VOCs.

In summary, although VOC sensors cannot directly replace formaldehyde sensors for measuring formaldehyde concentrations, monitoring changes in total VOC concentrations, combined with considering indoor environmental factors and taking effective ventilation and air purification measures, can still help assess the potential risk of indoor formaldehyde to some extent.


CurieJet® P760, integrated with a MEMS-grade VOC sensor, can detect Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) from paints (such as formaldehyde), lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, furnishings, office equipment, glues, adhesives and alcohol. The IAQ (Index for Air Quality)index, valued from 0 to 500, can be deemed as VOC Index to reflect different gaseous pollutants risks of TVOC Level. Upon request, breath-VOC (b-VOC) which represents the most important compounds in an exhaled breath of humans, can also be supplied as VOC value in ppm. https://www.curiejet.com/en/product/particle-voc-index-barometric-pressure-sensor/environmental-sensor-modules