Innovative Coating of Lampshades Uses Heat From Bulbs to Tackle Air Pollution
Scientists report that they have designed catalyst-coated lampshades that transform indoor air pollutants into harmless compounds. The lampshades work with halogen and incandescent light bulbs, and the team is extending the technology so it will also be compatible with LEDs.
Indoor air pollution is rarely a major topic of discussion, but it can have a significant impact on health. Many everyday activities in the home release VOCs into the air. “Although the concentration of VOCs in a home or office is low, people spend more than 90% of their time indoors, so the exposure adds up over time,” said Hyoung-il Kim, Ph.D., the project’s principal investigator.