I thought visitors were claiming sickness, but it appears not. Just a few park workers, which seems plausible.
http://www.currentargus.com/ci_21147034/carlsbad-caverns-remain-closed-after-seven-national-park Carlsbad Caverns remain closed after seven National Park Service employees sickened by fumes By Stella Davis Current-Argus staff writer Posted: 07/24/2012 02:02:09 PM MDT CARLSBAD - Carlsbad Caverns National Park remained closed Tuesday after seven employees fell ill and were taken to the hospital on Monday, suffering from the effects of toxic fumes. The park was closed at 2 p.m. Monday after heavy fumes from a solvent used by a contractor on the newly installed elevator rails permeated through the park's Visitor Center. "We are bracing for more employee feeling the effects of the fumes," said Park Superintendent John Benjamin. He said visitors to the caverns were probably not exposed to the fumes because of their short duration in the Visitor Center. However, employees were exposed to the heavy fumes for at least two days. Benjamin said the National Park's Denver Service Center has assigned an industrial hygienist to the park to come down to "scour" the building and everyone who has worked in it. In the meantime, Benjamin said the contractor working on the elevator project has been tasked to locate equipment that can determine there are no harmful chemicals in the building. "We are struggling with this. How did this happen?" Benjamin said. On Tuesday, park rangers were stationed at the entrance to the park's road leading to the Visi-tor Center and were turning visitors away. Benjamin said whether the park will reopen Wednesday depends on getting the all-clear from the professionals and the monitoring equipment brought in to ensure the chemical fumes are fully dissipated. "There could be some odorless or tasteless residuals from what was painted on the elevator rails," Benjamin said. "I'm hoping the contractor will find the piece of equipment and get it in place so we can get everything checked out." On Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 10:44 PM, Bill Bentley <[email protected]> wrote: > ** > The last time I licked elevator rails I got sick too! > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* George D. Nincehelser <[email protected]> > *To:* [email protected] > *Sent:* Tuesday, July 24, 2012 10:42 PM > *Subject:* Re: [Texascavers] Carlsbad Caverns > > They say something was sprayed on the elevator rails and it's making > people sick. > > I'm wondering if there's a little mass hysteria going on. > > George > > > On Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 9:52 PM, Preston Forsythe > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> ** >> Heard tonight via a RV Forum: >> >> *"Visitor center and cave are closed* if you are headed that way. Some >> type of air contamination due to construction work in the elevator shaft. >> Call 575-785-2232 for updates on the closure." >> >> "The bat flight program is still on." >> >> >> Preston in Outer Browder, KY about a 26 hour drive from Carlsbad and the >> Guads. >> >> >> >> >
