Naphthalene sensor: protection against invisible dangers to your health

Abstract:

‍Naphthaleneis a volatile organic pollutant that is frequently found in the air - for example, in exhaust fumes, tobacco smoke or old building materials. It is suspected of being harmful to health and should be detected as early as possible. A naphthalene sensor makes invisible pollution measurable. With the air-Q air analyzer, you can monitor naphthalene and many other pollutants in real time - and thus actively improve the air quality in your home, office or business.

What is naphthalene?

Naphthalene is a colorless to white solid that has a very characteristic, pungent odor. Many people are familiar with it from earlier times as an ingredient in mothballs or pesticides. Although naphthalene is no longer used in household products today, it can still be found in our environment.

Why naphthalene is problematic

Naphtalene 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.

How a naphthalene sensor helps

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.

Is there a naphthalene sensor?

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 particulatesradon 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.