MVOCs
(Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds)
MVOCs: The Smell of Mold
Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs) are gases produced by mold. The musty odor which you might smell from mold is caused by MVOCs. These odors are actually chemicals which are produced my molds during some parts of the mold's growth cycle. Laboratory experiments have identified over 200 compounds as MVOCs. They are commonly made up of strong chemicals such as aldehydes, benzenes, tulolenes and many more.
Some molds produce different MVOCs depending on conditions such as moisture and what the mold is growing on. However molds will only produce MVOCs at all when they are actively growing (which depends on certain conditions such as humidity, temperature, air pressure and light) as they are the waste products created by mold as it grows. Therefore if you can smell MVOCs from mold it is a sign that mold is actively growing in your home and that you should remediate the mold problem as soon as possible.
Removing MVOCs
Even if you cannot see mold, the musty smell of MVOCs can alert you to the presence of mold growing somewhere in your home hidden from view. MVOCs can be damaging your health even if no mold growth is visible in your home. Even HEPA filters cannot remove MVOCs from the air.
Once the mold is removed some MVOCs may still be present as they can remain ingrained in permeable items such as clothes, carpets, upholstered furniture and curtains. Although these moldy odors will be hard to remove, cleaning the items thoroughly along with fresh air and sunlight should remove most of the odor.
Symptoms Attributed to MVOCs
MVOCs can cause symptoms such as headaches, sickness/nausea, dizziness and fatigue. It is also believed MVOCs irritate the eyes and the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. However, because research on MVOCs is still at an early stage not everything is yet known about MVOCs and our reactions to them.