Mystery Odor Sickens Seven People at Indianapolis Hospital

Cinnaminson, NJ, October 10, 2012
 
Last month, USA Today published a report about seven adults becoming ill after exposure to an unknown substance at an Indianapolis hospital.  The event closed the hospital’s emergency room for several hours as the Indianapolis Fire Department responded to the scene.
 
The event started when a mystery odor prompted a call to the fire department.  Emergency responders arrived to investigate a possible chemical spill in the hospital’s emergency room.  Reports indicate that no spill was found and all subsequent tests came up inconclusive. 
 
Fortunately, all seven people who had become ill reported no additional symptoms after being removed from the area and no additional people have become sick.  Mystery odors issues, like what occurring at the hospital, happen on a much more frequent basis than many people believe. 
 
Mystery odors can be caused by a wide range of sources that can occur both from within a structure or infiltrate it from an outside or underground source.  As appears to have happened in this case, if air samples cannot be taken quickly enough the mystery odor may dissipate to such a low level as to be inconclusive or undetectable when air testing occurs. 
 
One way to overcome this in places that have recurring mystery odors is to have sampling equipment on hand and staff trained to quickly take an air sample.   EMSL Analytical, provides air sampling equipment and analysis for situations like these.  “Whenever an air samples can be taken while the odor is still noticeable there is a much higher chance of the cause of the mystery odor to be determined,” stated Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, a leading mystery odor testing laboratory. 
 
EMSL recently sponsored an educational video about mystery odors that can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eDzaVWPBGY
 
To learn more about testing for mystery odors or other indoor air quality (IAQ) and environmental concerns, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com .
 
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com