View as Microsoft Word* | View as PDF
INTEROFFICE MEMO #3
| DATE: |
9 MONTHS LATER |
| TO: |
CHEMICAL INVESTICATIONS GROUP |
| FROM: |
DR. I. M. NOTAQUACK
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY |
| RE: |
INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL SICK BUILDING |
| PRIORITY: |
[URGENT] |
Dear Investigators,
Nine months have elapsed since the Citizens moved into their new home. Sally has developed major debilitating symptoms. She has heart palpitations that are brought on by anxiety attacks, which she now has on a regular basis. Sally wakes up at 4 a.m. with night sweats. She cries incessantly and finds she is frequently confused. Sally had a hysterectomy to try and alleviate some of her symptoms. Unfortunately, she still has all of the same symptoms that she has been having for the past year. In addition to those symptoms, she now has blurred vision and dizziness. She has begun having fainting spells and is afraid to drive the car. Since the hysterectomy did not improve Sally’s ailment, she has now been referred to a neurologist.
All members of the family are also feeling sick. Ima Citizen now has regular stomachaches. She has pain in her joints and her shoulder hurts so badly she can no longer throw a softball. Ura Citizen also has aching joints. Sometimes her ankle joint pain is so severe that she can hardly walk. Both girls have begun having severe menstrual cramps.
Although Sally and Bob have a central air system, they generally choose to use the fireplace for heating their home in the winter. In fact, the summers have even been so mild that they haven’t even bothered to use their air conditioner at all.
The EPA has done more tests in the neighborhood, and scientists have now added carbon monoxide poisoning to the growing list of potential sources of the Citizen family’s ailments. Your goal is to find evidence that supports or refutes this claim: Random motion of carbon monoxide molecules has caused it to be diffused throughout the home, causing the Citizens’ symptoms. At least one piece of evidence must include a reasonable source for the carbon monoxide in the Citizen home.
Thank you very much for your attention to this matter. Your assistance in finding the source of carbon monoxide and evaluating the symptoms is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Dr. I. M. Notaquack
< Return to The Case of the Mysterious Malady