General Tools offers a formaldehyde antidote

General Tools & Instruments has sensed an opportunity created by the recent Lumber Liquidators controversy.

The company is introducing a hand-held FD08 Formaldehyde Meter to measure formaldehyde levels in flooring, carpeting, drapes, wall board and furnishings.

The FD08 can also be used in commercial warehouse and plant settings to ensure compliance with indoor air quality standards.

The meter has a range of 0 to 5ppm, a resolution of 0.01ppm, and an accuracy of +/-(5%+0.03ppm), meeting the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) acceptance criterion for accuracy. It operates in temperatures ranging from 32° to 122°F (0° to 50°C) and can also measure temperature and relative humidity.

Formaldehyde can cause cancer at high levels, as well as respiratory problems and eye, nose and throat irritation at lower levels.

According to the company, hundreds of thousands of homes are estimated to have elevated levels of formaldehyde.