Three dozen Miami airport security workers hospitalized - Strange Odor

Associated Press ^ | 4-7-04 | AP

[Crazieman]

Miami-AP -- Three dozen federal workers at the Miami airport have been taken to the hospital.

Officials say a strange odor caused some of them to suffer eye irritation and nausea.

A concourse was closed for about two hours after the Transportation Security Administration workers complained about the fumes at a security checkpoint.

Hazardous materials workers haven't been able to detect any chemicals or strange fumes. The investigation continues.

Officials don't believe there was any sabotage. They say early reports indicate carbon monoxide may be responsible. No passengers were affected.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Gefreiter]

Hmmm... did Michael Moore get on a plane there?

[Robert Teesdale]

Odd. Thirty six people hospitalized, all security, and no trace of any chemicals detected? This is either a terrorist test, a rather bad OSHA issue, or really bad labor problems.

[eno_]

Three dozen federal workers...

First, calling them "workers" is unsupported by the facts. Second, HOLY CRAP!!!!! It takes three dozen of these layabouts to man a checkpoint?????

[Puddleglum]

The union stopped footing the bill for odor eaters.

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[MrB]

Somebody farts and it closes down an airport...

[Constitution Day]

"More beans, Mr. Taggart?"

"I'd say you've had enough!"

[Hodar]

Three dozen federal workers at the Miami airport have been taken to the hospital. .......

No passengers were affected.

Ok, I'm open to suggestions. How do the workers get affected, but other passengers do not?

[11th Earl of Mar]

Last time I was going through an airport checkpoint, I also noticed security personnel with a strange odor.

[Fitzcarraldo]

A running vehicle parked too close to an AC intake?

[QQQQQ]

Officials say a strange odor caused some of them to suffer eye irritation and nausea.

They say early reports indicate carbon monoxide may be responsible. No passengers were affected.

One problem with that explanation is that CO is odorless, eye irritation is not one of the symptoms, and where would it come from at an airport.

Consumer Product Safety Commission: Carbon Monoxide Questions and Answers

What is carbon monoxide (CO) and how is it produced in the home?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels. Appliances fueled with natural gas, liquified petroleum (LP gas), oil, kerosene, coal, or wood may produce CO. Burning charcoal produces CO. Running cars produce CO.

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?

The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu (but without the fever). They include: Headache Fatigue Shortness of breath Nausea Dizziness

[adam_az]

That was my thought. Carbon Monoxide is ODORLESS.

So what was the odor?

[finnman69]

TSA = Thousands Standing Around

[John H K]

Ok, I'm open to suggestions. How do the workers get affected, but other passengers do not?

Do some research on "Mass Sociogenic Illness"...actually stuff like this is pretty common. The problem is people really hate that diagnosis, so basically when it happens doctors don't make a big deal of it to the media or their patients, and the whole thing basically peters out.

The workers are a social group who associate with each other, but the passengers just keep passing through.

[mabelkitty]

I go with really bad labor problems.
They are civil servants, afterall.

[b4its2late]

So what was the odor?

Is Hillary and her crusty pant suit in town?

[Libertarian444]

[Safetgiver]

If passengers were moving through a poorly ventilated area, say two to three minutes exposure time and the employees were there for say, three to four hours at acrack, it is very possible that a Threshold Limit Value (TLV) could be reached. The question is What?. Co2, monoxide,methane or maybe ballast gas from a bad flourescent light.

[StrictTime]

TSA=Taking Away Scissors