What you need a TVOC HCHO and CO2 Air Quality Monitor at Home

As a follow up to our discussion here are more details on what the metrics shown on device are 

While many monitors focus on PM2.5—which is essentially fine dust and soot—this device is designed to find the invisible chemical threats that most PM sensors completely miss. For indoor air, these can often be the more immediate concern.
Here’s what this monitor is protecting you from, which is incredibly important:
• 🧪 HCHO (Formaldehyde): This is a specific, harmful gas you can't see or always smell. It's released from new furniture, particleboard, glue, and even some fabrics. Monitoring this is crucial, especially in new homes or after buying furniture.
• 💨 TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compounds): This is the "new paint" or "new car" smell. It's a broad category of chemical fumes released from cleaning supplies, air fresheners, carpets, and solvents. High levels are what cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
• 😮💨 CO2 (Carbon Dioxide): This is your 'fresh air' indicator. It's not a pollutant, but as we breathe in a closed room (like a bedroom or office), CO2 levels rise. High CO2 directly causes drowsiness, headaches, and loss of focus. This monitor tells you exactly when it's time to open a window and ventilate.
So, while a PM2.5 monitor tells you about dust, this device warns you about chemical fumes (HCHO & TVOC) and air stuffiness (CO2). For health and comfort in a home or office, monitoring these invisible gases is a huge benefit.

we trap a different set of pollutants inside and let them build up to dangerous levels. These aren't just dust particles; they are invisible chemical gases (HCHO and TVOCs) that most HEPA filters can't stop.

1. HCHO (Formaldehyde): The "New Furniture" Toxin
Formaldehyde is a specific, carcinogenic gas that is extremely common in modern Indian homes.
• Where it comes from:
• New Furniture: This is the biggest source. The glues and resins used in plywood, MDF, and particleboard "off-gas" (release) formaldehyde for months or even years. That "new furniture smell" is often HCHO.
• Paints & Furnishings: New paint, wallpapers, curtains, and carpets.
• Combustion: Burning gas stoves, and even some types of incense.
• Why it's a threat:
• Short-Term: Causes a burning sensation in the eyes, nose, and throat. It can also trigger coughing, wheezing, and nausea.
• Long-Term: It is classified as a human carcinogen (can cause cancer) by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is also a major trigger for asthma, especially in children.
2. TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compounds): The "Chemical Smog"
TVOC is not one chemical, but a large group of chemical gases. Think of it as the "chemical smog" inside your home, created by everyday activities.
• Where it comes from in Indian households:
• Cleaning Supplies: Floor cleaners (like Phenyl, Lizol), toilet cleaners, and glass cleaners.
• Pooja & Fragrance: Burning agarbatti (incense sticks) and dhoop releases high levels of VOCs (like benzene) in a closed room.
• Mosquito Repellents: Both the liquid plug-in type and repellent sprays are major sources.
• Cooking: Especially frying (tadka), which releases a lot of VOCs in a short time.
• Personal Care: Deodorants, perfumes, and hairsprays.
• Why it's a threat:
• Short-Term: This is what causes that "sick" or "stuffy" feeling. It leads to headaches, dizziness, loss of focus, fatigue, and irritation.
• Long-Term: Can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Some VOCs are also known carcinogens.
Summary: Why Indian Households Need This
A PM2.5 sensor tells you about the outdoor dust that got in.
An HCHO/TVOC sensor (like the one in this device) tells you about the invisible chemical poisons that are being released inside your home from your furniture, cleaning, and daily rituals.
For an Indian household, this monitor is necessary because it's the only tool that answers these critical questions:
1. "Is my new furniture releasing toxic gases that could harm my child?"
2. "Is it safe to be in the room after cleaning with Phenyl, or do I need to air it out?"
3. "Is the mosquito repellent I run all night building up to harmful levels?"
4. "Is the air in my pooja room safe to breathe after burning incense?"
5. "Is my sealed bedroom getting 'stuffy' and toxic overnight from the CO2 I'm breathing out?"
By monitoring these, you know exactly when to ventilate (open a window) or use an air purifier with an activated carbon filter to remove these specific chemical threats.