=0A
I've had chemical odor complaints localized in office areas at several locations. The occupant would insist that it was caused by some chemical contamination=0A or air flow issue from lab areas- Upon investigation it was caused by uncapped marker pens and once even by a moldy orange!
=0A
Tim
=0A
=0A
Timothy M. Hauser, CHMM=0A
=0AManager, Environmental, Health & Safety
=0A
=0A
=0A
=0A
=0A
=0A
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU]=0AOn Behalf Of Garrow, Walter
=0ASent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 3:23 PM
=0ATo: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
=0ASubject: Re: [DCHAS-L] odor question
=0A
=0A
=0A
=0A
This may sound strange, but some of the men's urinal deodorant blocks have similar chemicals.=0A
=0A
=0A
=0A
From: Dan Herrick [mailto:herrickdan**At_Symbol_Here**HOTMAIL.COM]=0A
=0ASent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 10:07 PM
=0ATo: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
=0ASubject: [DCHAS-L] odor question
=0A
=0A
=0A
=0A
Greetings all,
=0A
=0AWe are investigating an Indoor Air Quality issue in an infrequently used faculty office which is full of books, papers, a computer server, etc. The odor is mothballs, and we cannot locate the source. (Believe me, we've been trying!) We've done a lot of work=0A already, investigating, ruling things out, etc. My question to this list is:
=0A
=0AHas anyone had an odor issue where a mothball odor was caused by something other than mothballs?
=0A
=0AI am aware that the chemical which causes the distinctive odor in mothballs is either naphthalene (older products) or 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (newer products). This faculty member is not doing any chemistry but rather investigates materials and their mechanical=0A properties.
=0A
=0AAll thoughts are appreciated.
=0A
=0A
=0A
=0A
Thank you,
=0A
=0A
Dan
=0A
=0A
--------------------------------------------------------------
=0A
Daniel C. Herrick
=0A
EHS Coordinator, MIT
=0A
Department of Mechanical Engineering=0A
=0A
Laboratory for Manufacturing & Productivity (LMP)
=0A
Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE)
=0A
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
=0A
=0A
phone 617-253-2338
=0A
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
=0A
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 3-056
=0A
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
=0A
=0A
=0A
