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We had a similar complaint in our credit union. Air sampling did find dichlorobenzene.
After much looking we discovered that the suspended ceiling tiles were littered with the deodorant cakes used in urinals.
Some occupants had complained of stuffiness and the custodian was trying to help…..
There could be similar products left or hidden in or above the office---or in an air supply.
Jim Woodring
Industrial Hygiene Manager
Argonne National Laboratory
jwoodring**At_Symbol_Here**anl.gov
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of Dan Herrick
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 3:08 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] odor question
Greetings all,
We 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 already, investigating, ruling things out, etc. My question to this list is:
Has anyone had an odor issue where a mothball odor was caused by something other than mothballs?
I 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 properties.
All thoughts are appreciated.
Thank you,
Dan
--------------------------------------------------------------
Daniel C. Herrick
EHS Coordinator, MIT
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Laboratory for Manufacturing & Productivity (LMP)
Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE)
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
email herrickd**At_Symbol_Here**mit.edu
phone 617-253-2338
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 3-056
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307