Posted by Larry Hoover on November 1, 2004, at 7:31:49
In reply to Re: chemist - paint fumes? » AMD, posted by jerrympls on November 1, 2004, at 1:39:44
> > chemist,
> >
> > Freaking out again -- I woke up this morning to the smell of spray paint fumes (or what smelt like spray paint -- perhaps it was mixed paint with a paint gun?) in my apartment. Apparently they'd been painting all the doors, and didn't bother to have people leave. Horrible. I'd been sleeping in it for who knows how long. Now I have a severe headache and I'm worried it's related to the fumes. Freaked out might be a better choice of words. Are these fumes dangerous? Have I put myself at risk? I'm so mad...
> >
> > a
> >
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> Hi-sorry I'm not chemist, but I thought I could help.
>
> I lived in my apartment for 1-2 years with a severe gas leak. Friends/family would come over and tell me it smelled like gas but I couldn't tell (apparently got used to it?). I did some research on the internet and found out that exposure could lead to neurological problems and depression, etc. I called th gas company ASAP and they guy measured for leaks. He came out of my kitchen area with his eyes wide open. He said there was a substantial gas leak from my oven that had been pouring gas fumes out at a high level. Apprently under 100 units (?) was with in "safety" parameters and the readin he got was over 300. Fortunaltey all he had to do was tighten a screw that was loose.
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> I was furious and almost took my landlords to court because they're supposed to check appliances, etc yearly and they had never done so. I went to my doctor who tested my hemoglobin and CO2 levels and found I was severely iron deficient.
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> Still to this day I am upset about it and have no idea to what degree it effected my brain, etc.
>
> Talk to your doctor ASAP. Then if necessary - get a lawyer.
>
> Hope this helps?
> JerryHey Jerry. The risk you faced wasn't from brain damage. It was an explosion risk. Gas as in a gas stove is primarily methane, but can include slightly heavier flammable gases such as ethane, propane, and butane. These gases have no smell whatsoever, so the gas supplies are blended with very small amounts of a very stinky gas in the mercaptan family (skunk stink is a mercaptan).
If there gets to be a certain concentration of that cooking gas in the air, along with all the oxygen that is there, all it takes is a spark, even the kind you get off the carpet from static electricity, and Kaboom! you get a chain reaction that releases so much heat and increases the gas pressure so instantly that the shock wave blows the walls out.
It didn't hurt your brain.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:409003
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20041005/msgs/409946.html