MVOCs and your health

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Odors From Hidden Mold And Your Health

Article Presented by:

Daryl Watters

It is a well known fact that many man made volatile organic compounds

such as benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, and formaldehyde to

name a few not only have scary names, but can have scary health

effects and can contribute to indoor air quality problems such as sick

building syndrome and other IAQ problems.

Mold odors are also made of volatile organic compounds. Volatile

organic compounds produced by mold include chemicals similar to

alcohols, aldehydes, amines, ketones and many more.

When volatile organic compounds are produced by mold or bacteria we

stop calling them volatile organic compounds and refer to them as

microbial volatile organic compounds. (mVOCs)

Mold odors or mVOC's are typically over looked as a source of health

complaints by many mold inspectors who look for spores as the only

source of potential health problems. Other inspectors are concerned

about the health effects of controversial toxins produced by toxic

black mold. Many untrained mold inspectors will enter your home do a

quick inspection and take one or two air samples and e mail you a lab

report a week later. Because visible mold was not obvious and the lab

report you receive states that spore levels indoors are low, these

inspectors will conclude that you do not have a mold problem, and that

your health problems are not related to mold in your home.

They do not seem to consider the fact that mold may be hidden in your

property, and they fail to realize that hidden molds can produce other

dangerous components such as mVOCs or (mold odors) even when not

releasing spores.

In this firms experience inspecting for mold in South Florida's Palm

Beach, Dade, and Broward Counties from 2003 to the present there is a

very strong correlation between mold odors and health complaints. For

example this inspector has investigated numerous cases where mold

odors were produced inside AC units, on inside walls and people became

ill.

It appears unlikely that the illness is the result of spores because

mold inside AC units, and ducts, inside walls, or under thick wall

paper, often do not produces elevated spore levels. Thus the symptoms

are not likely related to exposure to non volatile allergens in the

mold spores, nor to non volatile heavy toxins in the mold spores, but

to the light weight highly volatile organic chemicals evaporating from

the spores and escaping into the air. The word volatile refers to the

fact that a compound evaporates into air easily at room temperature.

It appears unlikely that the odor produced a psychosomatic (imagined

reaction) because people living in areas with these mold odors

sometimes do not notice the odors till the inspector removes an

electrical outlet cover plate for inner wall sampling and the client

stands a foot away from the cover plate, other times the client never

noticed the odor till the inspector tells the client to stand in a

specific spot, (directly under an AC vent). Such odors are often

obvious to this inspector because of experience with them. In most

cases the odor has been noticed by the client but was always barely

noticeable.

Sometimes the molds are trapped and cannot release spores into the

air, in other cases the mold is growing vegetative, this means that it

sees no need to waste metabolic energy on the biologically expensive

act of spore production so it simply grows via branching out to

surrounding areas. This is very common with Cladosporium mold that are

found producing odors in moldy AC units and ducts. Though the mold and

spores may not register when an air sample is taken, odors that are

often only perceptible to a trained nose are often present in the very

room where health complaints are concentrated, this correlation is

very strong in this inspectors experience.

In this inspectors experience health complaints related to mold odor

include headaches, allergy symptoms, and increases in the occurrence

of sinus infections, and even asthma development, the inspector has

seen this connection hundreds of times.

After years of noticing this correlation I started to find information

on the internet to support these observations. Please note that the

legal and health implications are powerful, even in the lack of

elevated spore levels building occupants can still become ill from mold.

Samples of mold odor can be taken for quantitative and qualitative

analysis by accredited labs using proven and advanced methods of

analysis. Samples are taken using thermal desorption tubes or summa

canisters. Prism Analytical labs AKA PATI is one of the few labs that

specializes in not just voc analysis but also microbial volatile

compound analysis.

Do not rely on my observations, also see what academic and government

mold experts say about this often overlooked issue.

( Otto et al., 1989) Apparently Otto was years ahead of his time.

Exposure to volatile organic compounds may result in irritation to the

eyes and the respiratory system. Volatile organic compounds and moldy

pungent odors can also initiate avoidance reactions from the

trigeminal nerve such as breath holding and discomfort.

Environmental Protection Agency Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds

(mVOCs)

some compounds produced by molds are volatile and are released

directly into the air. These are known as microbial volatile organic

compounds (mVOCs). Because these compounds often have strong and/or

unpleasant odors, they can be the source of odors associated with

molds. Exposure to mVOCs from molds has been linked to symptoms such

as headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.

Research on MVOCs is still in the early phase.

Damp Indoor Spaces and Health (2004) Board on Health Promotion and

Disease Prevention (HPDP )Institute of Medicine (IOM )

The committee found sufficient evidence of an association between

exposure to damp indoor environments and some respiratory health

outcomes: upper respiratory tract (nasal and throat) symptoms, cough,

wheeze, and asthma symptoms in sensitized asthmatic persons.

Epidemiologic studies also indicate that there is sufficient evidence

to conclude that the presence of mold (otherwise unspecified) indoors

is associated with upper respiratory symptoms, cough, wheeze, asthma

symptoms in sensitized asthmatic persons, and hypersensitivity

pneumonitis (a relatively rare immune-mediated condition) in

susceptible persons.

From Environmental Health Perspectives - Airborne Mold and Endotoxin

Concentrations in New Orleans, Louisiana, after Flooding, October

through November 2005Mold.

Filamentous microfungi (mold) can threaten human health through

release of spores that become airborne and can be inhaled. Some molds

produce metabolites (mycotoxins) that can initiate a toxic response in

humans or other vertebrates (Robbins et al. 2000). Repeated exposure

to significant quantities of fungal material can result in respiratory

irritation or allergic sensitization in some individuals (Bush et al.

2006). Sensitized individuals may subsequently respond to much lower

concentrations of airborne fungal materials. Of the thousands of types

of fungal spores found in indoor and outdoor environments, adverse

health effects in humans have most frequently been associated with

Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys

(Hossain et al. 2004; Jarvis and 2005; O'Driscoll et al. 2005;

Stark et al. 2003).

(Jaakkola et al. 2005).

The health effects of exposure to mold in the indoor environment have

been extensively studied (Belanger et al. 2003; A more recent large

population-based prospective cohort study found that the presence of

mold odor in the home was associated with a 2.4-fold increased

incidence rate of asthma among children.

Study: Mold in Homes Doubles Risk of Asthma Report in Environmental

Health Perspectives Finds Children Residing in Damp Homes at Risk for

Developing Asthma

Exposure to mold and dampness in homes as much as doubles the risk of

asthma development in children, according to a study published today

in the March issue of the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health

Perspectives (EHP). In fact, children living in homes with mold odor

during the initial study period were more than twice as likely to

develop asthma in the following 6 years.

Damp Indoor Spaces and Health may 2004

This book by the Institute of Medicine examines the health impact of

exposures resulting from damp indoor environments and offers

recommendations for public health interventions.

A comprehensive literature review finds sufficient evidence of an

association between damp indoor environments and some upper

respiratory tract symptoms, cough, wheeze, and asthma symptoms in

sensitized persons.

State Health Dept- What are microbial volatile organic compounds?

Another source of irritation from mold exposure comes from substances

known as microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). These compounds

are produced through fungal metabolism and are released directly into

the air, often giving off strong or unpleasant odors. Exposure to

mVOCs from molds can irritate the eyes and respiratory system and has

been linked to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nasal

irritation and nausea.

Respected Allergy Related Website - Volatile Compounds

(VOC'S) produced by mold are thought to cause headache, attention

deficit, inability to concentrate, and dizziness.

Respected Allergy Related Website - Adverse Reactions to Odor

Odors produced by molds may also adversely affect some individuals.

Some people derive enjoyment from odors of all kinds. Others may

respond with headache, nasal stuffiness, nausea or even vomiting to

certain odors including various perfumes, cigarette smoke, diesel

exhaust or moldy odors. Asthmatics may respond to odors with symptoms.

Author

Harriet M. Ammann is a senior toxicologist for Washington State

Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health Assessments. She

provides support to a variety of environmental health programs

including ambient and indoor air programs.

Respected National Mold Remediation Chain - Why do molds give off

musty odors?

The musty odors produced by molds are known by scientists as Microbial

Volatile Organic Compounds. Health effects such as headaches,

dizziness and nausea have been linked to exposure to mVOCs.

Mold Law Website - Mold Irritations

Volatile Compounds found in or around homes can be responsible for

mucous membrane irritants. It is thought that fungi can add to the

already existing compounds when breaking down certain organic

substances. A mold-contaminated building may have a significant

contribution from its fungal contaminants that is added to common

VOC's---building materials, paints, plastics and cleaners. VOC's in

general can result in symptoms that include lowered attention span,

headaches, lack of concentration, and dizziness.

Reaction to Mold Odors

Some individuals have very strong reactions to the smells given off by

molds. Among humans, there is a high degree of variation in ability to

detect these odors. Certain individuals can detect low levels of

VOC's, while others can only detect relatively high levels.

About the Author:

A Accredited Mold Inspection Service, Inc. provides IAQ or indoor air

quality and mold testing services for home owners and businesses in

Palm Beach, Dade, and Broward County Florida.

http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us/

http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com/

http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us/voc-levels-miami-dade-ft-lauderdale-west-pal\

m-beach-iaq-indoorairquality-consultant.htm

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