We were called by a client several years ago to help find an unusual odor. It seems that the receptionist on the 13th floor was complaining about a “chemical-like” odor that permeated the floor two or 3 times every week. As the receptionist, the complainant had an opportunity to talk with everyone who came to the floor. Just by asking them if they smelled “that offensive odor” she encouraged others on the floor to complain about IAQ. She even asked one of her company’s mechanics who was visiting, about the odor, and he told her “You are probably smelling anti-freeze. That’s something that should never be in a commercial office building.” That angered her and she became even more vocal!
In response to this complaint, we did our usual investigation. This involved looking at the HVAC systems, reviewing outside air deliveries, checking custodial chemicals, and collecting background readings of general air quality. Nothing unusual came up.
While we were doing our investigation, the HSE (health, safety & environmental) department for the tenant was running their own investigation. Our fees weren’t too high, but the HSE department ran some expensive testing for volatile organic compounds. After 2 weeks, all lab analyses were received, and they also showed “no problem found.” That didn’t stop her from complaining.
In an attempt to channel her concerns, I recommended that she call my cell phone the next time she sensed the odor. I would then rush to her building trying to smell the odor and identify the source before it went away. I still remember the final day of this investigation when she placed her call.
She called me one morning at 10:15 am. She said the odor was terrible. She sounded sick. She could barely talk. And I rushed to the building. I arrived and was finally able to smell the “sweet, sticky, odor” that she had described. I quickly walked around the floor looking for areas where the odor was strongest. As I did, I came across one young woman in a cubicle that was just getting up from her chair and heading to the kitchen. She was carrying a dirty bowl. I asked if I could smell the bowl, and after her strange look, she agreed to let me. It did smell sweet! Maybe this was it.
I carefully took the bowl over to a doorway near the receptionist. I cracked the door open a bit, and asked the receptionist to smell the air. I then passed my open hand over the bowl, sending the odors to her side of the door. “That’s it!” she screamed. “You’ve found it!” I quickly closed the door and grabbed the HSE manager, and the building manager. I then explained what we’d found.
The young woman that I met in the cubicle area had warmed up her maple-flavored oatmeal breakfast at 10:10 that day when she took her break. And she had done the same thing twice this week, and 3 times last week. Each of the days when she ate her breakfast correlated to the receptionist’s complaints. All I can say is wow!
Since that time, I have had one other instance of Maple-flavored oatmeal breakfast cereal causing complaints about odors in a building. Now however, I know the source.
I always say that it is important to remind occupants that indoor air quality is a shared responsibility. Give them some guidance on what they should and should not be doing within their space. Show them how easily they can cause an IAQ concern and how easy it is to avoid one. But for heaven’s sake, don’t provide them any maple-flavored oatmeal!