Has anyone got an eye-infection from living near a septic tank?

[astral]

More specifically, VERY near a septic tank. I am suspecting my apartment has the fumes coming inside except I don't smell anything. Sometimes in the summer I smell a little something when I am outside.

Other health-related whines aside, my permanent wrinkly eye condition started around a month after I moved in here. It has been two years. I know I am an idiot. Now I am hung up on getting out of this apartment in the hopes I will start looking like a human being again.

I suspected a number of things including the septic system, but somehow now I am convinced that is it. Looking the subject in Dogpile turned up hit after hit about this being a common symptom for people living around septic systems, I guess usually ones that are not properly taken care of but it's not my system and not my issue I can't prove anyway what is making me sick.

It is awfully demoralizing to be disfigured like this and I guess I waited long enough to wake up and start fighting my fate here again.

Thanks ~~~!

[izquierdista]

1. The word of the day is ubiquitous

Bacteria and fungal spores are all around us and picking up an infectious agent is what we do all the time. However, 99.99% of the time the body's immune system fights it off before we even know it. It could be that you are sensitive to the infectious agents in your apartment (which might be proliferating in said septic tank) and that a move would clear things up.

Are you sure it is an infection and not an allergic reaction? Does it clear up with a course of antibiotic? Do you know what helps your condition and what makes it worse? Have you tried changing the air filters in your HVAC system and putting in a HEPA filter?

Septic tanks are meant to contain wastes and allow them to slowly digest and generally do NOT aerosolize the bacteria in them. Now all the leachate from the septic tank may be causing plant growth (and fungi) above it, which could be generating pollen and spores that are the cause of your problem.

It could be very difficult to track down the cause of your problem, and it may just be coincidence that it started just after you moved in. If you move out and the condition doesn't clear up, that would tend to indicate it was just coincidence. However, without knowing what the cause is, it is just hit-or-miss trying to treat it. Have you been away on vacation for a few days, and does the condition improve on its own?

[AZCat]

4. While HEPA filters will help with some problems (allergies, for example)...

they aren't drop-in replacements. HEPA filters have a higher pressure drop (1" w.g. or greater initial resistance, and as much as 2" w.g. final resistance) than standard MERV 7 filters (which have a minimum final resistance of 0.6" w.g.), and if your fan isn't sized for this you can get significantly lower air flows and possibly freeze your refrigerant coil. You also need to remember to replace the filters according to the manufacturer's instructions.

[Jane Austin]

2. We have a septic tank and I had conjunctivitis

a couple of weeks ago.

I'm pretty sure mine was kicked off by mountain juniper pollen.

Cedar fever can be a bitch here around Austin in the winter.

[uppityperson]

3. I've lived near septic tanks most my adult life without problems. Had problems with sewer when in

town though as it backed up while living in a couple places.

[supernova]

5. The only time septic tanks cause problems

is when there is something wrong and they need to be fixed. I.e., the tank is old and needing replacement. or the leeching bed needs to be redone. Any of that is possible if the system near you is very old. Check if the area above the tank is squishy and smelly. That would be an obvious clue.

Normal functioning tanks and leeching beds don't release germs or anything else into the air. As noted above, the only thing you see is that the grass may be a shade greener. :-) (IIRC, this was the title of an old Erma Bombeck book. )

You know what does smell? Sewage treatment plants. :puke: Especially in summer. :puke: :puke:

[astral]

6. Haven't got a HEPA filter . . .

I have not had a chance to take a vacation, and there is no time when this condition goes away. Although sometimes it looks worse than others, and there are times it is itchy / stingy / dried-skin-flaky and other times the skin feels almost normal.

All this time I thought it was a coincidence which is why I never tried to address moving, I mean, how can moving seem like a good idea when you've just moved? (My skin problems started much earlier than that, only the eye condition appeared and stayed after the move, so it wasn't the beginning of all my problems.)

I do appreciate the comments, though, if I see no comments that others have had this problem I will be hesitant to think moving will solve all my problems.

[RebelOne]

7. I have lived in South Florida for many years

where most homes have septic tanks. I have never had any health problems.