Our old 1990's Viewsonic 6E VGA Monitor emitted something into our apartment. It caused severe burning eyes, nose, throat, and lungs; hitching in breathing, headache, nausea, flushed "hot" face, and difficulty breathing. Plus, it made the air seem "heavy". The monitor was in a room with all windows closed and central A/C on. This went on for nearly three days, during which the monitor was on a total of 26 hours. When we realized it was the monitor, we removed it from the apartment. We have been ventilating with all windows and doors open all hours with five fans running for two weeks now. The "gas" is still in our apartment and causing the same symptoms (but milder unless we close the windows). We are sleeping on the balcony and only go inside for 20-30 minutes. On colder days (below 60 degrees) we can stay inside maybe an hour before we need fresh air. It's worse in warmer temperatures.
Every computer person we've talked to says they've never heard of a monitor doing this. One person thought the monitor was burning old plastic or had burned through to a dangerous plastic coating. The guy who was supposed to inspect it never came by. We live in a small town and there are not any true specialists in monitors here.
I'm desperate to find out what this "gas" is--and how much damage it has done (and is doing) to us. We have very little money and no other place to live. We are sleeping on the balcony, hoping that the "gas" will ventilate out. We fear it was absorbed by the carpeting (and other things) while the windows were closed and is now being released when it warms up. Considering it was a limited emission, we're hoping it will all release and be gone soon.
Has anyone ever heard of something like this? Do you have any idea what the "gas" would have been? If so, do you think it will eventually blow out anytime soon (or in weeks, months)? Would turning on the heater help? If we move, is it absorbed into all our stuff and will move with us and release into our new apartment?
I emailed Sam Goldwasser at his website and he said he could only guess that one of the electrolytica capacitors was the source, or possibly an overheated transformer or inductor. He did not know however what this would release into the air, but he did think it would dissipate and not do long-term health damage.
If anyone has any more ideas WHAT got released into the air and/or how long it should take to ventilate out or has anything to add to Mr. Goldwasser's guess, I would appreciate it.
THANK YOU! Jolene