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"Perfume" Sickens Workers in Fort Worth Office

By BJ Austin, KERA News

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-852100.mp3

Dallas, TX –

Officials with the Fort Worth hazardous materials unit say it was apparently "perfume" that prompted dozens of people to evacuate the Bank of America building on Beach St., near Loop 820 Wednesday afternoon. KERA's BJ Austin reports.

Fort Worth Fire Lt. Kent Worley says the hazardous materials team did not find any gas of chemical in the building. A worker told investigators someone had sprayed perfume nearby. It made a couple of women dizzy. They notified their supervisor who made a public address announcement to the whole building that if anyone felt dizzy or sick, they should go outside. About 150 people did. Lt. Worley says it appears to be psychosomatic.

Worley: It's not uncommon. It's somewhat of the sick building syndrome that has been heard about throughout the world, actually. Sometimes there is a substance. And many times there's not. It truly is the "I feel sick, so you must feel sick" kind of thing.

Lt. Worley says 20 people were taken to the hospital to be checked out.

Email BJ Austin