Posted on 10/09/2004 9:21:42 AM PDT by Willie Green
The Monessen Civic Center was closed Friday until authorities can figure out what caused several people who were attending a book fair there last week to experience problems with their eyes and "sunburned skin."
Mayor John DeLuca said yesterday that the decision to shut down the center was made during a meeting between city council and the city's civic and recreation authority.
"Just to play it safe, we're doing this," he said. "We want the (state) Department of Health to come in and look it over."
At least five people who attended the Oct. 2 book fair sponsored by the Greater Monessen Historical Society reported having trouble with their eyes and red skin that resembled a sunburn.
Health Department spokesman Richard McGarvey said an environmental health specialist was expected to meet with city leaders next week.
"They're going to meet, talk and possibly do a walk-through," he said.
Carl DeiCas, chairman of the recreation authority, and DeLuca said preliminary findings are pointing to a damaged light as the cause. He said the belief is that the light was disturbed by an errant ball.
"It broke the exterior part of the light. But the interior part can still work, and it just gives off ultraviolet rays," DeiCas explained.
"It doesn't extinguish. It keeps burning. That's probably why these people got burned and their eyes were sore. But I don't know that for sure."
DeLuca said the light is in the gymnasium, where the book fair was held.
"We had a broken light. These people were near this ... light," he said.
DeiCas said more would be known after borough authorities speak with the Health Department official. He said all 15 such lights in the gym probably would be replaced.
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
ping
What the heck was the wattage of the "damaged" lightbulb!!?? 3.6 trillion ?
I don't know how helpful that is, but it should be somewhere in the ballpark.
Sorry I didn`t tag my reply as "sarcasm", I`ve seen the Monessen Civic center, alotough I`ve never been in it, I`d have to guess they were 400w like you said, but that is still rather extreme effects from just a damaged light bulb.
I remember a story years ago about an audience that experienced burned eyeballs and skin from a damaged overhead projector. A few were permanently blinded if I recall correctly.
I clearly do not understand the dangers of electricity;) That`s just NUTS.
Thank God for "city leaders".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.