No Aircraft
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 30
Physiological - Other
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
This is the second day of exposure to Methyl Ethyl Ketone; and other chemicals not stated; by controllers at ZME ARTCC. I filed a report yesterday detailing that incident.I left work yesterday; and returned to work this morning. There was still a very noticeable chemical odor in and around the control room. Large fans were still being used to supposedly remove this chemical from the control room. The back doors were closed.I and other controllers; were again feeling throat and eye irritation; albeit at a lesser level than yesterday. Some controllers requested sick leave so as not to be exposed any further to the irritant. We were told air scrubbers were coming in by [the morning]; now arriving [in the afternoon]. Doors have been opened since [the morning].With zero air monitoring samples as of this time; we are constantly being told that we are not; and have not been; exposed to dangerous levels of chemicals. Our union official was denied a seat while FAA personnel discussed the situation yesterday.Yesterday should have been ATC ZERO after finding out the type of chemical we were being exposed to; and with so many controllers complaining of health issues; while on sector. Air samplers should have been brought in to ascertain the level of contamination.
ZME Center Controller reported exposure to Methyl Ethyl Ketone fumes in the facility for two days.