Naphthalene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that can be released into the air through combustion processes or certain materials.

Warum sollte ich Naphthalin in der Luft messen?

Because it can be harmful to health, often goes unnoticed and can only be recognized by its smell at high concentrations.

Wo finde ich typische Naphthalin-Quellen?

In the vicinity of traffic, tobacco smoke, old building materials, heating fumes or open fireplaces.

Detect naphthalene in indoor air

Q: Wie misst der air-Q Naphthalin?

The air-Q air analyzer is equipped with a sensitive VOC sensor. This detects a large number of volatile organic compounds - including those that may indicate the presence of naphthalene. The air-Q also measures over 15 other parameters such as particulates, radon and formaldehyde.

Abstract: Detecting naphthalene in indoor air

Naphthalene is a volatile organic pollutant (VOC) that can occur in indoor air. Sources are for example car exhaust fumestobacco smoke or old building materials in buildings. As naphthalene can be harmful to health, early detection is particularly important.

A naphthalene sensor makes invisible pollution measurable. With the air-Q air analyzer you can monitor many pollutants in real time. This allows you to keep control of the air quality in homes, offices or businesses and actively take measures to improve it.

What is naphthalene?

Naphthalene is a chemical compound from the group of aromatic hydrocarbons. It appears as a whitish crystalline solid with a strong, characteristic odor. In the past, it was often used in mothballs, cleaning agents or for pest control. The question "What is naphthalene?" can be answered as follows: It is a highly volatile substance that can evaporate at room temperature and thus enter the ambient air. Due to possible health risks, the handling of naphthalene is now considered critical, which is why it has been replaced in many applications.

Naphthalene in indoor air

Naphthalene indoor air pollution is caused by the substance evaporating from solid products even at low temperatures. Indoors, this leads to an intense odor that many people find unpleasant. However, the health effects are more critical: prolonged exposure to naphthalene in indoor air can cause headaches, irritation of the mucous membranes or nausea.

It is particularly problematic that naphthalene was not only used in mothballs or pesticides in the past, but also in the construction industry. It was sometimes used in the construction of public buildings such as schools, for example in building products or insulating materials. As a result, increased naphthalene concentrations can still be measured in the indoor air of older buildings. This poses a permanent risk to indoor air quality, which is why particular attention should be paid to testing materials containing naphthalene during renovations and refurbishments.

Why naphthalene is problematic

Naphthalene belongs to the so-called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It is formed, for example:

during the incomplete combustion of wood, coal or oil,
from cigarette smoke,
near busy roads,
in old buildings due to certain construction and insulation materials.

Long-term exposure to naphthalene can irritate the respiratory tract, cause headaches and is suspected of being carcinogenic. Particularly problematic: naphthalene is invisible and only recognizable to humans in high concentrations by smell.

Large construction site with excavator and smoke — Naphthalene is often produced at large construction sites and when burning wood, coal or oil.

Is there a naphthalene sensor and how does it help?

A naphthalene sensor measures the concentration of this pollutant in the air. This has several advantages:

Early detection: stress becomes visible before it causes health problems.
Prevention: You know exactly when it is time to ventilate or remove the source.
Documentation: Measurement data helps to identify the causes of stress in the long term.

Pure naphthalene sensors are very rare and hardly ever used in practice. Instead, pollutants of this type are detected using VOC sensors. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds - a whole group of substances that includes naphthalene.

How the air-Q can give indications of naphthalene

The air-Q air analyzer is equipped with a sensitive VOC sensor. This detects a large number of volatile organic compounds - including those that may indicate the presence of naphthalene. The air-Q also measures over 15 other parameters such as particulates radon and formaldehyde.

In concrete terms, this means

Early warning: If the VOC value rises significantly, this may be an indication of naphthalene or similar pollutants.
Root cause research: The air-Q measurement data can be used to identify temporal patterns - for example, whether pollution is related to traffic, heating or certain materials.
Health protection: Users can ventilate, search for the source or, in case of doubt, consult experts.

Important: The air-Q does not replace a laboratory measurement, but provides valuable initial indications if the air quality is impaired.