nasty mothballs

[Chele]

My neighbor put mothballs in the basement, directly under my apartment-although I do not have access to it. The smell is taking over my place and I am going crazy about it. For a while I thought I had it under control, using essential oil diffusers, opening the windows occasionally, but now that winter has set in I can no longer open windows and I don't know what to do about it. Any suggestions? How do I get rid of the smell, will it fade over time? I mean these things aren't even in my apartment and still the smell is strong. Any ideas???? HELP

[nattybo]

omg! you can be poisoned from the chemical in mothballs, naphthalene.

Are you renting your apartment? Call the super/apartment manager ASAP!

There are some federal laws that might be broken here.

Naphthalene/mothballs are only allowed to be used in airtight containers. Under no conditions is it to be used where the odor/vapors can enter living areas. It says that right on the box the mothballs came in.

seriously, do not let this go unchecked. I have heard of old people dying from exposure to naphthalene.

I know of no situation that requires the use of mothballs (I am an Entemologist). Ceder chips work at keeping moths out of clothes and it smells heck of alot better. Not to mention no one has ever died from inhaling ceder vapor.

Please, please, please call someone TODAY. There is no way to "mask" the chemical danger of naphthalene. The mothballs need to be removed; the area where they were washed/cleaned and aired out.

[baileyandmikey]

really, did you ever get to call the landlord? those things could cause you problems. yuck.