Abstract:
We previously reported that indoor odorous chloroanisoles (CAs) are still being emitted due to microbial methylation of hazardous chlorophenols (CPs) present in legacy wood preservatives. Meanwhile, Swedish researchers reported that this malodor, described since the early 1970s, is caused by hazardous mold. Here, we examined to what extent CP-treated wood contains mold and if mold correlates with perceived odor. We found no studies in PubMed or Web of Science addressing this question. Further, we investigated two schools built in the 1960s with odor originating from crawlspaces. No visible mold was evident in the crawlspaces or on the surfaces of treated wood samples. Using a microscope, varying amounts of mold growth were detected on the samples, all containing both CP(s) and CA(s). Some samples smelled, and the odor correlated with the amount of mold growth. We conclude that superficial microscopic mold on treated wood suffices produced the odor. Further, we argue that CPs rather than mold could explain the health effects reported in epidemiological studies that use mold odor as an indicator of hazardous exposure.
摘要:
我们以前曾报道过,由于传统木材防腐剂中存在的有害氯酚(CPs)的微生物甲基化,室内有气味的氯茴香(CA)仍在排放。同时,瑞典研究人员报告说,这种恶臭,自1970年代初以来,是由危险霉菌引起的。这里,我们检查了CP处理的木材在多大程度上含有霉菌,以及霉菌是否与感知的气味相关。我们在PubMed或WebofScience中没有发现解决这个问题的研究。Further,我们调查了两所建于1960年代的学校,它们的气味来自爬行空间。在处理过的木材样品的爬行空间或表面上没有可见的霉菌。用显微镜,在样品上检测到不同数量的霉菌生长,都包含CP和CA。一些样品闻起来,气味与霉菌生长量相关。我们得出的结论是,经过处理的木材上的表面微观霉菌足以产生气味。Further,我们认为,在使用霉菌气味作为危险暴露指标的流行病学研究中,CP而非霉菌可以解释所报告的健康影响.