Indiana, Pennsylvania - The Unemployment Compensation Call Center in White Township may be moving to a new location if the building's landlord doesn't get to the bottom of a mysterious odor in the building by early March.

Troy Thompson, a spokesman for the Department of Labor and Industry, said officials sent a letter Feb. 6 to the building's landlord, Capital Venture Properties Inc. in Hollidaysburg, stating that the company had 30 days to correct the problem or the department would default on its 10-year lease set to expire Aug. 31, 2011, for untenable conditions. Labor and Industry entered the lease agreement on Sept. 1, 2001, for the building at 630 Kolter Drive.

Inspectors have been working since October to determine the origin of a smell that has permeated the building on and off, causing eye, nose and throat irritations, headaches, nausea and other symptoms for employees.

"They (the landlord) have been really cooperative and we understand the lengths that they have taken along with the Department of Health, Environmental Protection, Labor and Industry and private consultants to get to the bottom of the odor,'' Thompson said. "However, we cannot continue to subject our employees to the uncomfortable nature caused by the odor regardless if there is a health risk or not.''

Though test results have been inconclusive, Thompson said nothing was identified as a health risk for employees.

Inspectors collected and tested samples of organic and inorganic acids and chemicals such as ethylene glycol - an ingredient in coil cleaners - and benzoic acids, but tests have come back negative. They have examined all leads, from melted rubber bands on top of some light fixtures to the scented hand lotions and body sprays of employees.

Air-quality tests for carbon dioxide, duct and HVAC inspections completed by Labor and Industry, Capital Venture Properties Inc., the Department of Environmental Protection and others have also yielded inconclusive results for the odor's origin.

"All of our leads have led us to the same conclusion. We still can't find the source of this odor,'' Thompson said.

Employees have been allowed to prop open a door when the smell is present, but Thompson said cold weather has made conditions worse.

The staff of 103 people has temporarily been moved to the Duquesne and Altoona unemployment call centers. In the meantime, Thompson said Labor and Industry will look for alternative locations for the call center within the county.

"We're not looking to move, at this point, the center out of the area because we have those workers trained in that area that can perform those essential jobs,'' he said.