The smell of mold is something that makes most homeowners anxious. Mold can structurally damage the house – but also cause serious health effects in the form of respiratory problems and allergies. At the same time, something else may be hidden behind the mold odor: the toxic chemical pentachlorophenol.
In a large part of Swedish houses built during the 1960s and 70s, the chemical pentachlorophenol was used as an impregnating agent. However, its use was completely banned in 1978, as it had been shown that the chemical could be harmful to health. Health problems can especially arise when pentachlorophenol is broken down by microorganisms and moisture into so-called chloroanisoles, which are more easily spread in the air.
"Can be mistaken for mold odor"
Despite pentachlorophenol being banned today, the chemical still remains in many older houses. The most common way to detect pentachlorophenol is through its smell.
– However, this musty smell is deceptively similar to mold odor – which causes many to mistake the origin of the smell. The effect can also be amplified if the wood is also damp, says Johan Lundberg at the air purifier company Ozoneair.
Read more about bad odors from impregnation
It is difficult to know how many Swedish houses still have problems with pentachlorophenol, and there is also uncertainty about the exact health effects that the chemical can cause. However, according to Johan Lundberg, it is important to always be vigilant against bad odors in your house and to address the problems as quickly as possible. Even if the bad smell is rarely directly harmful, it contributes to a poorer indoor environment – and can also lower the value of your house or apartment.
Mold, smoke, or impregnation. What odors are you having problems with?
Easy way to remove bad odors
To help homeowners remove bad odors themselves, Ozoneair has developed both a simple and environmentally friendly alternative. Our innovative air purifier uses ozone, a natural method to neutralize microorganisms, mold spores, and other sources of bad odors. With Ozoneair, you avoid using chemicals or expensive remediation companies and can quickly remove, for example, mold odor or smoke odor from your home.
– We have developed Ozoneair to be as simple and as effective as possible. All you need to do is essentially press the button, and Ozoneair then purifies the air in just a few hours.
