No Subject

["Brian Fairchild" <Brian_Fairchild@fernald.gov>]

     >Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 08:03:32 -0400
     >From: "Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@ix.netcom.com>
     >Subject: Re: Radio-Phobia 
     
     >Sounds like the "sick building" syndrome. Poor quality air, poor 
     >ventilation and fungus in air ducts.. The issue IS one for the IH 
     >staff, and NOT health physics. The real problem is the phobia, and as 
     >Jim said, this is an all too common assumption .. it has to be a 
     >radiation hazard in the work place, or, within the community. Wait 
     >until the Cassini mission gets off the ground .. IF it ever does, 
     >which looks more unlikely every day. If it does, however, all ills, 
     >all increases in assumed illness (isosomatic or otherwise) will be 
     >blamed on Cassini.. Watch!
     
     >> "A worker ... called and is concerned about the air quality.  
     >Specifically 
     >> she thinks there is radon and radiation in the air.  And the 
     >radiation is 
     >> causing the air to be stuffy.  She is very concerned."  
     >>
     
     ------------------
     >Sandy Perle
     >Technical Director
     >ICN Dosimetry Division
     >Costa Mesa, CA 92626
     >Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
     >Fax:    (714) 668-3149
       
     >sandyfl@ix.netcom.com
     >sperle@icnpharm.com
     
     >ICN Dosimetry Website:
     >http://www.dosimetry.com
     
     >Personal Homepage:
     >http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205
     
     >"The object of opening the mind, as of opening 
     >the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
     >              - G. K. Chesterton -
     
     I agree, I have also worked as IH for three years and have run in to 
     this often.  The IHs at your site should have a device called an IAQ 
     meter.  It measures the Relative Humidity, CO2 and Temperature in an 
     area and records the data.  I would have them set monitoring up in the 
     persons area for a couple of days and collect data.  In most of the 
     cases, the person felt mild nausea and said that the air felt "thick 
     and stuffy."  As soon as the person went outside, they felt alot 
     better.  This, in combination with the phobia is a likely suspect.  In 
     all of the cases I have dealt with, the person involved had a phobia 
     of radiological conditions in the area and it turned out to be higher 
     than normal CO2 levels in the building and not enough air exchange.
     Maintenance of the air conditioners usually showed clogged ducts with 
     the condensers being filthy.  Their was higher than normal humidity in 
     the air with some mold in the exchanges.
     
     Who knows, give it a try.  Definitely be straight forward and honest 
     with the person, but don't let it become a "Witch Hunt."
     
     If I can answer some other questions, please call me or cc:Mail me.
     
     Brian Fairchild, OHST
     brian_fairchild@Fernald.gov
     513-648-5820
     Fluor Daniel Fernald
     
     
     I didn't do it, you didn't see me do it, you can't prove anything.
     Here's to the American Way......