r/IndoorAirQuality

Scented really is the new cigarette. Same chemicals, same harm. Same corporate defensiveness from giant companies profiting from their chemicals, at the cost of human health.

Secondhand scent is as toxic as secondhand smoke. As for me, I'm grateful to this firm for standing up for clean air rights.

Speaking as a person with disabilities, anyone (like the companies in the article) who says the ADA has been "weaponized" doesn't understand disability at all and has no empathy for the strength a person with disabilities needs just to get through the day. To me, saying the ADA is nothing more than a "weapon against companies" is extremely ableist.

Excerpts from the article:

The conflict highlights an emerging debate about synthetic scents: Many hotels use them, but some sensitive guests consider those aromas as welcome as secondhand smoke.

In general, the lawsuits allege that artificial fragrances used in many hotel public rooms violate the federal Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, because those fragrances make it dangerous or impossible for some people to share the space.

In court filings, Cole’s firm asserts that 26.8% of adults suffer from asthma or asthma-like conditions and 27.5% suffer from chemical sensitivity. He contends that when hotels circulate synthetic fragrances through scent dispersion machines, they may be spreading toxic chemicals, potentially causing respiratory problems, headaches, skin irritation and gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and cognitive problems among vulnerable guests.

Many of the companies that supply hotel fragrances belong to the Switzerland-based International Fragrance Assn. (IFRA), which sets voluntary guidelines for ingredients. But the U.S. government frequently doesn’t require disclosure of fragrance ingredients because blends are often trade secrets.

“It’s outside of the [Food and Drug Administration’s] domain and so the regulatory framework becomes much less stringent,” said Alexander M. Spokoyny, professor and chair of UCLA’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Yet among skeptics, questions and doubts remain on the safety of chemical entities, fragrances included.

“Even if something might be natural, if you aerosolize it and spread it across buildings, it’s not necessarily great,” UCLA’s Spokoyny said. “I do think it requires more thorough public scrutiny. ... You just don’t know what you don’t know.”

And this nasty bit:
Representatives for Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Intercontinental Hotels Group and Loews hotel chains, all targeted in the first volley of lawsuits, did not respond to requests for comment. Nor did the American Hotel & Lodging Assn., the industry’s leading trade group.

But the association’s website asserts that the Americans With Disabilities Act “has been used as a weapon by scheming lawyers seeking to extort easy settlements ... after alleging ambiguous violations of the law.”

Southwestern USA

900 sq ft apartment, not many doors and the few we do have are often open to the rest of the house so it's kind of just one big interconnected space

Pollen allergens (mainly tree- Juniper, Cedar, Sweet Gum), Cat dander (pretty heavy amount of it, there are two of these little fur babies and they SHED), general dust (not an allergen, we live in the desert so its just kind of inescapable), would not mind paying a bit extra for something that could mitigate or remove viral droplets if such a thing is possible

Budget is actually fairly flexible right now (anything <$1000 is ok) though I'd still prefer as cheap as possible for my needs. If possible, would like something where filters are at least somewhat reusable, just to cut waste. filters also need to be able to handle a fairly heavy load of pollen, dust and dander consistently (so if I can't get reusable ones, I'd prefer they at least be very cheap so I can replace them when they reach their limit). Would prefer very low energy usage, and something that can run for a long time without risking overheating. Low noise also preferred but not required.

Another concern is that it be lightweight and/or wheeled, as due to a physical disability I can't lift heavy objects.

Needs to survive a large and hefty cat both climbing on it and bodyslamming it at high speed.

Im trying to find a good air purifier for a 260sqft/6m x 4m living room in an apartment where a neighbor casually lands some smoke from either cigs or vaping, either way, it's annoying and I would like to avoid that. So I was looking for something with a decent amount of activated carbon that also has enough power so it's not annoying to run at at least medium speed, and I saw how the 400s Smoke filter has a smaller amount of carbon compared to the 600s.

Filter	Activated carbon
Core 400S Smoke Remover	~450 g
Core 600S Smoke Remover	~360 g
Difference	400S has ~90 g more
Relative difference	400S has ~25% more carbon

The ~450 g figure for the 400S Smoke Remover is supported by independent testing/information, while the 600S Smoke Remover is reported at about 360 g.

So who thought it was a good idea? The extra power of the 600s would be nice, as it would allow me to run it at lower speeds, however, what's the point if what matters most to avoid smoke odors is inferior to the 400s? Not sure what to buy now.

For reference, I have the original Core 300 and it's unusable at speed 3 due the noise, but at least it still works. It doesn't lower VOC and HCH0's tho as tested on my Temptop. I never tried the Smoke filter but I guess it has too low of a carbon amount to matter.

Any alternatives that are available in EU let me know.

I live in an apt that is 6 years old. I have severe lung problems and found out the humidity in my apt was 83%!!! I started running a home dehumidifier 24/7 having yo empty it twice a day.

The ac only runs from 8 to 11 minutes then shuts off. It's on auto, I live in Florida but I've NEVER had humidity in my apt this bad.

I am constantly on prednisone 40 mg a day just to breathe.

.y landlord says the hvac is working properly..yet they provided the dehumidifier. If I forget to empty at night, in morning humidity is up from 53-55% to well over 60%. IT IS LITERALLY KILLING ME.

Any ideas? I told them, It's short cycling..they say no.

Hoping reddit can help explain our issue. Any thoughts are appreciated.

We live in a 4 year, newer built home. We have lived in it for 1.5 years now. We don't have any symptoms. We've noticed that the indoor staircase that leads from first floor to second floor always has this earthy/dirt/woody type smell that lingers despite using an air purifier. The smell only exists in the stairway and has been there since we moved in. We finally got around to having a mold inspector come out to examine. None of our walls or floors have retained moisture or signs of mold.

He also ran an indoor air quality test. My concern is the high TVOC and HCHO findings. Below are the results:

The following results were pulled directly from the meter readings and are presented as combined screening averages where available. Measurements were taken in the stairwell near two large uncovered windows. Recorded ambient conditions were 75.6°F and 58.7% relative humidity.

The home is approximately four years old, with wood flooring installed in some areas approximately one year ago (not near staircase). No recent household chemical use, painting, refinishing, new furniture, mattresses, or spray foam installation was reported.

Screening results and recommended levels

Parameter	Screening result	Guideline or reference	Interpretation
Total volatile organic compounds—TVOC	1.416 mg/m³, combined average	No universal health-based TVOC limit. German indoor-air guidance recommends avoiding concentrations above 0.950 mg/m³ as a precaution.	Above this precautionary reference numerically. Laboratory testing is needed because screening and laboratory methods are not directly equivalent.
Formaldehyde—HCHO	0.189 mg/m³, combined average	WHO guideline: 0.100 mg/m³ over 30 minutes.	Approximately 1.9 times the guideline concentration. Confirmatory sampling is recommended; these readings do not establish a validated 30-minute exceedance.
Fine particles—PM2.5	1 µg/m³, combined average	WHO guideline: 15 µg/m³ over 24 hours.	Low during screening. A short reading does not establish the daily average.
PM10	1 µg/m³	WHO guideline: 45 µg/m³ over 24 hours.	Low during screening; not a daily exposure measurement.
PM1.0	0 µg/m³ displayed	No separate WHO numerical guideline.	No response above the displayed resolution; this does not establish complete absence.
Carbon dioxide—CO₂	720 ppm	No universal residential pass/fail value.	Does not independently establish adequate ventilation or control of VOCs.
PM2.5 air quality index	4	Displayed particle-related index; calculation method not verified.	Consistent with the low particle reading. Does not describe VOC or formaldehyde conditions.
Relative humidity	58.7%	EPA recommends below 60%, ideally 30–50%.	Below the recommended upper level but above the preferred range.
Ambient temperature	75.6°F	No single temperature establishes acceptable indoor air quality.	Evaluate alongside humidity, comfort, and sunlit surface temperatures.

TVOC, HCHO, and PM2.5 are combined averages. Other values are individual recorded readings or field conditions.

My kitchen opens into a shared living area, and I’d like to reduce cooking smells spreading through the house without installing a door or doing major renovations.

Has anyone tried a simple, removable setup that helps keep the smells closer to the kitchen? I’m particularly interested in practical solutions that work alongside a range hood.

What have you tried, and did it make a noticeable difference? DIY examples or links to existing setups would be appreciated.

I had my EVA coil change after leakage. Today I just turned on the furnace, which is a propane furnace and all 10 smoke detectors almost immediately alarmed. I called the tech and he said that it could be Raul referred your rent oil. The kids could see a small fog inside the house, almost not noticeable. could the what could be causing this?

I’d like to use my basement to exercise but worried about air quality. It’s an older home that clearly has past water damage. I run a dehumidifier constantly but it is very musty smelling.

Would you suggest an at home test/monitor, professional inspection, or skip working out down there all together?