Cooling Leak Spews Gas Through Gutman Library

A leak in a valve in the air conditioning system in the Gutman library spewed noxious fumes throughout the building over the weekend, causing headaches and vomiting and necessitating the evacuation of the building for more than an hour on Tuesday.

Legionnaire's Disease

Dr. Warren E.C. Wacker, director of the University Health Services (UHS), said yesterday that the fumes "are not thought to be toxic." He said the UHS labs had tested cultures from the water inside the air conditioner to find out whether or not they were similar to those that caused "Legionnaire's Disease," but added that all the tests were negative.

An Ounce of Prevention

Inabeth Miller, a librarian at Gutman, ordered the evacuation of the building on Tuesday. "The fumes had been building up for days--it was a very noxious odor--and I wanted to make sure that nothing serious happened," she said.

The responses of the library workers varied. "Imagine being constantly exposed to the worst possible smell for a number of days," Diane Utt, a library secretary, said yesterday.

The symptoms of those exposed to the fumes ranged from mild nausea and gas pains to severe headaches and vomiting, she added.

Excuses, Excuses

Linda Breece, another library worker, said she thought the danger was being exaggerated, "We're all still here, living and breathing, so it can't have been that serious," she added.

One source, who asked to remain unidentified, also said he thought the fumes were not serious. "I think most people just wanted an excuse to leave early," he added.

All's Well

The Department of Buildings and Grounds, which repaired the leak on Tuesday, said the fumes posed no serious threat. The problem developed when water, anti-freeze, and an anti-bacterial agent leaked into the cooling system early last week.