Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:37:35 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: JAKSAFETY**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM
Subject: Re: DCHAS-L Digest - 25 Jul 2011 to 26 Jul 2011 (#2011-149)

2-methyl-butyric acid or 3-methyl-butyric acid. 
 
In 1971-2, I isolated these compounds as metabolic by-products of cand ida albicans.  It is an auto-growth inhibitor.  I worked with microbiologists Drs (Mr and Mrs) Lingappa at the College of the Holy Cross in the biology department. 
 
These two compounds are the essence of old socks, locker room, etc. .. . Jim
 
James A. Kaufman, Ph.D.
Kaufman & Associates
101 Oak Street, Welles ley, MA 02482
781-237-1335(w) 508-574-6264 (c) 508-647-0062 (f)
email: jaksafety**At_Symbol_Here**aol.com Skype: labsafe
 
In a message dated 7/27/2011 12:05:54 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, LISTSERV**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu writes:
There are 4 messages totalling 800 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

  1. Odor (4)


We have a strong "dirty socks=" odor present in one of our micro labs.  It=E2=80=99s a pretty typical lab using media and cultu res, etc.  and we are systematically removing everything and deconning bu t this odor is persisting.  I know I have smelt this chemical before, maybe back in my undergraduate days, but it is really a sickening odor.  A ny ideas?  Any help is greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

Rachel E. Harring ton, MPH, CHMM

Director- Office of Environmental, Health and Safety

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

3333 Green Bay Road

North Chicago, IL   60064

847-578-3420 work

224-622-4244 mobile

847-775-6548 fax

LIFE IN DISCOVERY



Did you look at the sink and floor drain traps to insure that they are fu ll of water? Over time the water in unused traps will evaporate and sewer gas w ill start coming thru the traps. I need to add water to my traps every few mo nths.

Dan Crowl
Michigan Tech

--
Sent from my Android pho ne with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

"Harrington, Rachel" <rachel.harrington**At_Symbol_Here**ROSALINDFRANKLIN.EDU> wrote:

We have a strong "dirty socks=" odo r present in one of our micro labs.  It=E2=80=99s a pretty typical lab using media and cul tures, etc.  and we are systematically removing everything and deconning but this odor is persisting.  I know I have smelt this chemical before , maybe back in my undergraduate days, but it is really a sickening odor.  Any ideas?  Any help is greatly appreciated.  Tha nk you!

Rachel E. Harri ngton, MPH, CHMM

Director- Offic e of Environmental, Health and Safety

Rosalind Frankl in University of Medicine and Science

3333 Green Bay Road

North Chicago, IL  60064

847-578-3420 work

224-622-4244 mobile

847-775-6548 fax

LIFE IN DISCOVERY

Did you check to make sure they are not dry?  Run water down all the sinks for a minute or two.

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Harring ton, Rachel
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 12:45 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Odor

We have a strong "dirty socks=" odor present in one of our micro labs.  It=E2=80=99s a pretty typical lab using media and cultu res, etc.  and we are systematically removing everything and deconning bu t this odor is persisting.  I know I have smelt this chemical before, maybe back in my undergraduate days, but it is really a sickening odor.  A ny ideas?  Any help is greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

Rachel E. Harring ton, MPH, CHMM

Director- Office of Environmental, Health and Safety

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

3333 Green Bay Road

North Chicago, IL   60064

847-578-3420 work

224-622-4244 mobile

847-775-6548 fax

LIFE IN DISCOVERY



Rachel,

Is it possible there has been a dairy spill like milk, cheese (non-preserved), yogurt or butter? These will yield a similar aroma. Another possibility is a short chain fatty acid ca lled butyric acid, if spilled,  it has a malodorous aroma of very stinky feet!

A decon with strong s odium bicarbonate solution may help remove the odor, I hope that this helps!

Oliver J (Jay) Toigo, CHMM , MPH

320 Cher ry Blossom Drive

Churchvi lle, Pennsylvania, 18966

Cell:215 -435-9774

E-Mail: ojt3**At_Symbol_Here**verizon.net

"You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems=".  Albert Einstein

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Harring ton, Rachel
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 3:45 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Odor

We have a strong "dirty socks=" odor present in one of our micro labs.  It=E2=80=99s a pretty typical lab using media and cultu res, etc.  and we are systematically removing everything and deconning bu t this odor is persisting.  I know I have smelt this chemical before, maybe back in my undergraduate days, but it is really a sickening odor.  A ny ideas?  Any help is greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

Rachel E. Harring ton, MPH, CHMM

Director- Office of Environmental, Health and Safety

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

3333 Green Bay Road

North Chicago, IL   60064

847-578-3420 work

224-622-4244 mobile

847-775-6548 fax

LIFE IN DISCOVERY


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