The musty odor you smell is decay off-gassing from biological growth which includes molds, bacteria and biofilm. Furthermore, these odors contain microbial volatile organic compound (mVOC). People may compare this odor to a dank locker room, old cheese, dirty socks, or wet dog for instance. As a matter of fact, many of our clients may experience immediate and longer term health effects from mVOC exposure.
mVOC odor and your health
The dank musty odor signifies the presence of microbial volatile organic compounds that off-gas while reproducing. Traditional volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are mainly industrial made chemicals with low molecular weights, high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Additionally, mVOCs are released from metabolic processes of decay agents like fungi, bacteria and biofilm. The off gassing of mVOCs include a wide range of alcohols, ketones, aldehyde, esters, carboxylic acids, lactones, terpenes, aromatic hydrocarbons, sulfur and nitrogen compounds.
mVOCs produced during primary fungal metabolism include: Ethanol, 1-octen-3-ol, 2-octen-1-ol, and benzyl cyanide. MVOCs produced during secondary metabolism include 2-methyl-isoborneol, geosmin (1-10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol) and terpenes.
https://www.indoordoctor.com/blog/dangers-of-whole-house-humidifiers/
The perception of MVOC’s is an indication that microbial growth is occurring. In the indoor environment, people have blamed exposure to MVOC’s for headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. Information on MVOCs produced in indoor settings and health effects is limited. The specific toxic properties and concentrations of MVOC’s needed to produce symptoms are still unknown.
Increased Headaches with mVOC exposure
You should take prudent and preventative measures to eliminate or reduce musty odors. These measures include but you shouldn’t limit them to:
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