The University Bookstore’s doors will be wide open for most of the week because of chemical fumes lingering in the building. The fumes were discovered Tuesday morning after several bookstore employees complained of headaches. Several employees went home sick, and one cashier, Robert Findlay was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center’s emergency room and later discharged, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
The fumes were a byproduct of the chemical detergent, Nuegenic, which is being used to clean residual glue and asbestos from the bookstore floor during remodeling.
University Bookstore general manager Jim Williams said the construction of the new tile floor is another stage of the bookstore’s remodeling, which has been taking place during the past six months.
“We’ve been replacing and removing all of the floors in the bookstore,” Williams said. “ATEZ comes in and seals the area then takes up the tiles; everything is done professionally. There is no risk of exposure to asbestos.”
Williams said scent-sensitive employees were affected by the residual odor of chemicals, not exposure to asbestos. He compared the toxicity of the fumes to that of fresh paint — not dangerous, but often annoying.
ATEZ, an asbestos abatement company, was hired by the bookstore management to assist in the renovation of the store’s old tile flooring. The original flooring was secured to the floor with a combination of glue and asbestos. After ATEZ removed the tiles and glue substance, the floor was cleaned with Nuegenic.
“Some people who are sensitive to smells have gone home because they were not feeling well,” he said. “We care about our employees, and we want them to do whatever is necessary to feel better.”
Bookstore administrators said they hadn’t realized fumes would create a problem, but the store will take extra efforts to ventilate the building today and Thursday.
“We’ve done work with ATEZ in the past,” Human Resources Coordinator Natalie Eggert said. “They are a fully licensed asbestos removal firm that is monitored by several environmental quality agencies.”
Eggert added the health warnings for Nuegenic do not specify the use of respirators for people in direct contact with the product. However, members of the ATEZ team who regularly use the chemical do wear respirators.
Nuegenic contains ether and some petroleum products. It is the mildest detergent available for this purpose and is rated as nonhazardous on Material Safety Data Sheets and hazardous chemical evaluations.