34 hospitalized after co-worker sprays perfume

[BridgeTheGap]

FORT WORTH, Texas - At first, fire officials suspected that carbon monoxide or some other toxic fumes had sickened almost 150 people at a Texas bank call center.

It turned out that perfume was to blame.

MedStar ambulance spokeswoman Lara Kohl says 34 people were taken to hospitals, 12 by ambulance, after reporting dizziness and shortness of breath Wednesday at a Bank of America call center in Fort Worth. Medics treated 110 at the scene.

Fort Worth fire Lt. Kent Worley says the incident started with two people complaining about dizziness after a co-worker sprayed perfume. Others reported being sick when an announcement was made that anyone with similar symptoms should exit the building.

Investigators do not know what type of perfume was sprayed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32211539/?gt1=43001

[ccharles000]

1. interesting

[Lorax7844]

34. Axe for women?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

43. DUzy Alert!

[Blue_Tires]

2. i've had some co-workers who must have used mace for perfume

i would do nothing but cough and sneeze around them...

[baldguy]

3. It's surprising & unpleasnt to wander into a 30ft wide toxic cloud.

You look out over the cube farm searching for the dead body, and not finding one wander away in despair.

[Pool Hall Ace]

4. I have had co-workers who suffered severe chemical sensitivity

Some people think they are just overreacting, but I don't. I stopped wearing perfume at work because of it.

There was another co-worker who apparently drowned herself every day in scent. You could detect her presence by smell while she was a good 12 feet away! Even on days when she wasn't in the office, her scent was still there.

It was a relief when she finally left the company.

[yellowdogintexas]

6. used to work there. I bet I know who it was, LOL it was Patchouli Woman

I knew when the woman entered our department(a very large room) before I ever saw her.
and I hate HATE Patchouli.

[Pool Hall Ace]

7. LOL! I remember it was a very heavy scent by Mary Kay, but

I forgot the name of it. :spray:

[BridgeTheGap]

10. I LOVE the aroma of Patchouli with a hint of body odor, early in the morning...;-) n.t

[csziggy]

47. I'm that kind of person - perfumes make me ill if I don't take tons of drugs

Zyrtec and Singulair make it possible for me to be around crowds of people. Before, there was always at least one scent that made me start a reaction - sneezing continuously, headaches, congestion, wheezing, etc. It was not unusual for me to sneeze for an hour or more, resulting in nose bleeds and probably aggravating my blood pressure.

Even with the drugs, being around much perfume or flowers can cause reactions, so I still avoid crowds and stores around Valentine's and Mother's Days.

[hobbit709]

5. Eau de Pepe LePeu maybe

[kentauros]

36. lol!

:D

Oui, oui! Mon Cheri!

If I wasn't polite to people I have worked with, I'd say something when it's overpowering like that. Like: "If you can smell it, then it's too much."

What I think I hate the most is not so much having to work around those with no remaining olfactory senses, but to have to eat around those that walk into a restaurant like that. It really does ruin the flavors and eating experience. But what can you do in that situation other than walk out...?

[dembotoz]

8. there is one scent that makes me sneeze alot and eyes water

haven't run into it for the past couple of years

But i do remember years ago an evening with a certain woman that went quickly from a romantic interlude to a skit on a tv comedy show.

she was really nice
she was really pretty
and she was actually showing signs of wanting me.
which never happens that often.
kaboom
all blew up in my face.
damn
she was pretty special.

[Sentath]

24. Perfume or Cologne?

A couple that I haven't seen recently: for perfume try 'White Ginger' or is it Hawaiian white ginger? For Cologne Aspen always got me sneezing.

[ShenandoahAspen]

9. Where I used to work..

one of the supervisors had a real strong perfume you could smell a mile away. She had a temper and wasn't very well liked, so whenever any of us smelled her coming we would always try to hide and avoid her wrath. Thank God I don't work there anymore.

[dugaresa]

11. the scent of Sex Panther perhaps?

[datasuspect]

18. a formidable scent

it stings the nostrils

[dugaresa]

20. and look it is now available

http://www.sex-panther.com/

check out the video, they are even running a contest for the best growl.

[Sheltiemama]

26. My vote is for Giorgio.

It was popular when I was in college, and you could smell it coming and going.

[HopeHoops]

12. There was a woman I used to work with who could kill from ten yards with her perfume.

She was large (her own fault - doughnut hound type), not very attractive, caked on makeup and bathed in perfume. You had to hold your breath to walk past her and could tell she was coming five minutes before she arrived. I know other women commented to her and complained to HR, but she never toned it down. I'm just glad it was on the first floor so I wasn't at risk of being stuck in an elevator with her.

She's not the only one I've encountered that felt the need to soak in perfume, but easily the worst case. I have absolutely no comprehension as to what mental disorder would drive one to that extreme. I'm not talking "enough to mask unfortunate body odor", I'm talking nuclear quantities.

[demigoddess]

23. perfume kills the sense of smell as well as you get used to it. she probably

thinks she is just lightly spritzed. but I know what you mean the formaldehyde in perfumes, deodorants, shampoos and laundry detergent nearly kills me. So I have to stay far away.

[Shell Beau]

13. Maybe it was Poison

Ok, bad joke, but really, what the hell kind of perfume could make that many people sick?

[Strong Atheist]

14. Don't like

particulates...

x(

[groovedaddy]

38. I would take odds on whether or not this product was from China. They seem to be on roll with

trying to sell us toxic substances!

[Strong Atheist]

41. Yeah, their concern for consumers and the environment is on par with ours... nt.

[Swede]

15. It sounds like mass hysteria.

All this from perfume. This story smells funny.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

17. That could be part of it but many people are genuinely allergic to some perfumes.

[Aristus]

19. Some people are unaware of just how powerful an allergen perfumes can be.

Among their many other ingredients, they are made with the oils from crushed flowers, after all.

[datasuspect]

21. and pig pheromones

[mix]

30. +1

[Arkansas Granny]

39. It's not so funny when it affects you. There are a few perfumes/colognes that give me

an immediate, raging headache. I don't know if it is the scent or the fixative that is used. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's like being punched between the eyes.

[Swede]

40. I know it affects some people badly,but when that many it the whole building

suddenly fall ill from perfume,that sounds like hysteria to me.

[hippywife]

46. I used to think it was overblown

but then I started aging and found that I could no longer tolerate scents. I cannot take anything from places like Bath and Body Works, especially. Ugh!

[Puglover]

16. Probably "Polo"

Nasty nasty stuff.

[Sheltiemama]

27. Yuck!

Every frat boy wore it when I was in college. I still can't stand the stuff.

[busybl]

33. polo on a guy in an elevator

could kill.

[rcrush]

22. It was Old Lady Perfume.

That shit will kill a donkey from a mile away.

[MadMaddie]

25. What kind of perfume was sprayed.? good grief!

[Texasgal]

28. I'd rather smell someone with purfume

than nasty body odor.

[Orrex]

31. I'm with you on that one

I have a friend with, let us say, outmoded notions of personal hygiene.

Years ago I was standing about 20 feet upwind of him and wearing a face-enclosing steel helmet, and his funk was still overpowering. I really suspected that it must have a supernatural component, because nothing wrought of living flesh could possibly smell so bad.

If I had to pick between that remarkable scent and someone wearing too much perfume, I'll take the latter.

[Generic Brad]

29. I work in a perfume free zone

I, for one, appreciate not having some of the more noxious perfumes forced upon me.

[busybl]

32. Estee Lauder is my guess

[Manifestor_of_Light]

42. Lots of the Estee Lauder stinkums give me headaches.

Beautiful is especially bad.

[sakabatou]

35. Must've been a scent to die for...

OK, that was really inappropriate.

:spank:

[BridgeTheGap]

37. Or at least to get sick over...n.t

[Xipe Totec]

44. Eau d'Toilet avec merde d' Chien n/t

[eppur_se_muova]

45. Anne Coulter has her own perfume now? Who knew?

No doubt a Halliburton product.