Health Alert: Beware of Casino Vent Systems
On a recent impromptu day trip to Atlantic City, we decided to stop at the Borgata Casino and Hotel to walk around, eat at the buffet and perhaps play a few games. I am not much of a gambler, but I had been to the Borgata before in previous years and really enjoyed the atmosphere. So I thought it would be a good idea to stop in and walk around. I was feeling rested, happy and ready to explore.
Within thirty seconds of walking down the retail hall from the garage entrance I noticed a strange artificial smell. I became spacey, lightheaded and short of breath immediately upon arrival. Along with that I had cold and numbing sensations down my legs and adrenaline shot through my system in waves. It looked at if we were walking in slow motion. Thinking perhaps it was just me, I told the person I was with what I was feeling. To my surprise, they were experiencing the exact same sensations! We both had trouble walking down the hall, and never made it to the casino entrance.
We turned around and walked back out to the parking garage and soon as the fresh air hit, both of us felt normal again, and I could breathe. The lightheadedness went away. So, we thought let’s walk in again and see if it gets better. This time we kept walking into the casino and tried to sit down for something to eat. The shortness of breath got so bad that we had to walk out again. Granted there were people who were not affected by this, but both of us were. I myself, suffer with various seasonal allergies and food sensitivities, and I find that the cleaner my lifestyle is, the more I do react to. The less toxic I become, the more intolerant and sensitive I become of anything toxic in the air.
After we left again, we felt normal but drained and decided to try Harrah’s instead. When we walked in everything felt fine and we could breathe normally. The difference was that you could smell the residue from the smokers, while at borgata this artificial scent seemed to mask it. I couldn’t understand what was going on. As I was thinking, I remembered a similar incident when I went to the Tropicana a few months back for a comedy show. There was a smoky mist coming out of the vents in attempt to create an outdoor night atmosphere for the re-created town. While standing in line for the comedy show, I had the same type of reaction.
When I got home, I decided to do some research to see if there were any other reports from people having the same reactions and I came up with many confused people writing posts not knowing why they were responding this way. I also found a detailed article about the scented air products:
I am very concerned for those people who may become harmed by these toxic chemicals being outputted and designed by companies to put in hotel and casino vent systems. We have enough pollution in our atmosphere the way it is! This could raise some serious health concerns for those who have serious asthma and for small children.
March 28th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Hi Marisa Pell,
I too had a weird feeling on Feburay 16-18 2009. I was at the Show Boat in AC. I got a sick feeling walking in from the garage and then waiting in the hallway near the food court. I thought it was just my nerves. Then when getting settled in the hotel room with my Inlaws giving us the tour of the Casino Floor. I can’t relax it’s like a panic attack feeling. I had to locate the Bathroom area’s , not that I had to use them. But even when walking through the Casino’s and out on the Boardwalk near The Trumps Taja Majhal. We went in to eat at the Buffet and all I need to find is the bathroom. It was down the hallway. What is is that is so overwheleming that I need to find them. Not that I went in. It’s like a sick knot tightness when comfronted with many choices at the buffett tables? Jeff and I where staying at the Show Boat for two nights a nice romantic get away. Well I made it through the first night. But the last night, I was so overwhelemed . We had a big buffett dinner and then I played some slot machine for about half hour and I was winning. We stopped and went to the hotel room. That weird feeling came back again. I was sick for the rest of the night. I felt better in the morning. Oh the nerves feeling starts when I have to get on the Elevators, there is a smell of the ashtray barrel sand? I tell myself that I’m not on the right rx for my nerves. I took Clonazepam before I leave to travel in the car and when I need to sleep. But it’s the walking around in public or in crowds that freaks my senses out! I ask myself what would it really feel like to be happy and normal about going away to have a vacation! I finally went to a high priced Shrink who diagnoised me as being BioPolar. She put me on Lithium and the Clonnazepam. This is my first month on the rx’s. I went on two job interviews and got them! Now I have no excuse not to beable to go for the help. I’m still interested in the Physic Intutive studies, I wish you where still in my town of Hopewell New Jersery.