High levels of carbon dioxide and trace amounts of carbon monoxide have been detected in a first year dorm room by campus security. With no leads yet as to what the source may be, the two students living in the Rebert East room, Liz Hayden and Kerrianne Belline, are left with only temporary solutions by campus residential services.
“It started the week before fall break,” Hayden said. “I started experiencing confusion, dizziness, shaking and feverish symptoms and so did my roommate.” After googling their symptoms and realizing they might be suffering from carbon dioxide poisoning, campus safety and security and eventually the fire department were contacted. They left the girls with an air meter to measure the levels of the gases in their room, and told the girls to “crack a window” if the readings get too high.
“Both Kerrianne and I have noticed we are more tired, unfocused and overall loopy if we’re in the room too long,” Hayden said. Aside from their physical symptoms, their lives have been impacted socially and academically by their lethargy.
Steps are being taken to address the issue. Currently there are monitors in the room collecting data, said Victoria Lederer, the residential coordinator working on this case. She plans to meet and work with health services and chemistry department professor Suna Stone-McMasters to solve the problem. “We’re working with the students to ensure their safety and explore all avenues.”
“At low concentrations carbon monoxide can cause fatigue and chest pain, while carbon dioxide at higher concentrations can cause impaired vision and coordination, dizziness and confusion,” FLUKE Industries, the manufacturer of the air meter used said. Both Hayden and Belline have experienced these symptoms.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a typical amount of carbon dioxide is under 600 parts-per-million. When the rate reaches 5,000 parts-per-million (for an 8-hour work day, not living environment), evacuation is necessary to avoid respiratory problems, narcosis and even asphyxiation. The meter in the students’ room usually reads around 3,000 parts-per-million for carbon dioxide and around 2 parts-per-million of carbon monoxide, but has reached as high as about 4,600 parts-per-million.