(Photo: KREM)
Staff , KREM 3:33 PM. PDT July 29, 2016
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Officials said Friday that multiple air fresheners in a confined space are to blame for a hazmat response a Fairchild Air Force Base on Thursday.
Hazmat crews were called to the Logistics Readiness Squadron around 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Authorities said 24 personnel reported feeling sick. By 3:30 p.m., all the victims were treated for their symptoms and had recovered, according to officials.
Investigators said the incident was caused by multiple air fresheners that were placed in a confined area and when the HVAC system turned on it caused people to feel ill. The facility has reopened and everyone is back at work.
They may smell sweet, but popular air fresheners can cause serious lung problems. That’s the message from a new study presented over the weekend at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). Home fragrance products often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that include such nasty chemicals as formalehyde, petroleum distillates, limonene, esters and alcohols