Narrative:

I started the APU and after about two minutes I began notice a strong 'damp sock' smell. Since we had just flown the airplane in and had not noticed any odor; I suspected the smell to be coming from the positive control area (pre-conditioned air). The first officer went down to the ramp and turned off positive control area; at which time I turned on both packs. The smell rapidly intensified; and I started getting complaints from the #1. I turned off the packs and the odor did not subside. At this time; I received a call from the back of the aircraft that one flight attendant had a sudden onset of a severe headache; tingling in arms and nausea. She reported that the other flight attendant had tingling in her hands and itchy feeling on her face. Almost simultaneously; the #1 popped into the cockpit and said that she had a sudden onset of a severe headache in her temples and the other flight attendant in first class galley had burning in her nasal sinuses and eyes. Due to concern about the possible exposure to tcp and/or other hazardous materials being introduced into the cabin and; due to the rapid and independent onset of significant symptoms from all flight attendants; I instructed them to stop boarding the aircraft and to get everybody off through the jet bridge. I instructed my first officer to call maintenance. Upon boarding the aircraft; the mechanics remarked that the smell was very strong. (This is remarkable because we seem to have acclimated to the odor very quickly. Later; when I stepped off the aircraft to consult with the agent at the podium in the terminal; I notice that the odor was much stronger as I returned to the aircraft. It seems that we had a rapid adaptation to the smell; which was rapidly reset when exposed to clean air.) while the aircraft was being examined by maintenance; I gathered my crew in the terminal. They reported that their symptoms were still significant. Furthermore; I began to experience mild light-headedness; mile nausea; mile headache; mild burning in my throat and metallic taste in my mouth. After consulting with my crew; in the interest of safety; I recommended that we report our symptoms to company medical. I advised the gate agent; who directed us to company medical. As it turns out; company medical was closed. After phone consultations with flight attendant supervisor on duty and chief pilot on duty arrangements were made for us to be transported to urgent care. Enroute to urgent care; flight attendant supervisor called us and said urgent care testing equipment was broken and that we should proceed to hospital er. We were admitted to er for examination and treatment. We were released at approximately XF34. I deadheaded home the following day. Once home; I was still experiencing the metallic taste in my mouth and contacted my personal physician who examined me later that day. The symptoms resolved within the next 24 hours (48 hours after the initial exposure).

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 Captain reports strong odor emanating from the air conditioning system during boarding. When Flight Attendants complain of headaches and nausea; aircraft was evacuated and crew proceeded to local emergency room for checkout.

Narrative: I started the APU and after about two minutes I began notice a strong 'damp sock' smell. Since we had just flown the airplane in and had not noticed any odor; I suspected the smell to be coming from the PCA (pre-conditioned air). The First Officer went down to the ramp and turned off PCA; at which time I turned on both packs. The smell rapidly intensified; and I started getting complaints from the #1. I turned off the packs and the odor did not subside. At this time; I received a call from the back of the aircraft that one Flight Attendant had a sudden onset of a severe headache; tingling in arms and nausea. She reported that the other Flight Attendant had tingling in her hands and itchy feeling on her face. Almost simultaneously; the #1 popped into the cockpit and said that she had a sudden onset of a severe headache in her temples and the other Flight Attendant in first class galley had burning in her nasal sinuses and eyes. Due to concern about the possible exposure to TCP and/or other hazardous materials being introduced into the cabin and; due to the rapid and independent onset of significant symptoms from all flight attendants; I instructed them to stop boarding the aircraft and to get everybody off through the jet bridge. I instructed my First Officer to call maintenance. Upon boarding the aircraft; the mechanics remarked that the smell was very strong. (This is remarkable because we seem to have acclimated to the odor very quickly. Later; when I stepped off the aircraft to consult with the agent at the podium in the terminal; I notice that the odor was much stronger as I returned to the aircraft. It seems that we had a rapid adaptation to the smell; which was rapidly reset when exposed to clean air.) While the aircraft was being examined by maintenance; I gathered my crew in the terminal. They reported that their symptoms were still significant. Furthermore; I began to experience mild light-headedness; mile nausea; mile headache; mild burning in my throat and metallic taste in my mouth. After consulting with my crew; in the interest of safety; I recommended that we report our symptoms to company medical. I advised the gate agent; who directed us to company medical. As it turns out; company medical was closed. After phone consultations with Flight Attendant Supervisor on Duty and Chief Pilot on Duty arrangements were made for us to be transported to Urgent Care. Enroute to Urgent Care; Flight Attendant Supervisor called us and said Urgent Care testing equipment was broken and that we should proceed to Hospital ER. We were admitted to ER for examination and treatment. We were released at approximately XF34. I deadheaded home the following day. Once home; I was still experiencing the metallic taste in my mouth and contacted my personal physician who examined me later that day. The symptoms resolved within the next 24 hours (48 hours after the initial exposure).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.