Brief Answer:
Parosmia. Caused by Sinus infection most probably

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thank you for posting your question to HCM.

I have gone through your query and understand your concern.
I don't know if you are suffering from sinus infection, so if you have history of your nose being blocked for a long time, having thick secretions, or if you have history of allergies? Does the environment in the fire department cause you blocked nose?
If that is the case, then its nothing to concerned about. You most probably are suffering from a smell disorder called Parosmia.
Sinus infection is a upper respiratory infection that sometimes destroys the sensory nerves in the nose which sense the smell. This may lead to inability of these nerves to encode and send the correct signal to the olfactory bulb. As the nerves are destroyed, you now perceive the smell of ammonia. You may need the further testing for smell by presenting different odors of substances.
At present there is no cure for Parosmia. But it may diminish over time. Do not lose your hope and do not worry. Your sense of smell will return to normal after sometime.
Just try to keep your nose unblocked so the sinus will drain if that is the case. If they are unblocked but the smell is still there, then you just will need to wait, prevent another sinus infection and give it time to heal.

Hope this helps.
Please let me know if you have any other question related. I would be happy to asnswer.

Take care.
Dr. Papaqako

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Brief Answer:
More details below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX

Yes, the toxins in the environment sometimes makes some people more sensitive to them, but it would have been accompanied with signs of allergy when you are exposed to them, like runny nose, sneezing or watery secretions from the eyes. Smell is on of the problems that start after you have experienced this for a long time.

The questions is if that smell you feel, do the other people who are around feel or not?
Is it any smell at all in the place when you feel it?-- if it is, but other people smell it differently then it is from the problem that we explained above, parosmia, a distortion of the smells.
If there is no smell around, and you just feel it all the time, regardless to the environment, even if in some places more the the others--then it is phantosmia.

As I mentioned above, the most common cause is an upper respiratory tract infection. but also rarely other causes may be present like temporal lobe seizures, sinusitis, brain tumors, migraine, Parkinson's disease and stroke.

I don't see it as much likely to have it from the mold exposure, as have not been studies about them as far as I know. If it is only in one side, or more in one then the other, toxins may cause parosmia from the accumulation if the folds of the nostrils or possible blockage of the sinuses and underlying infection there. But again, the main symptom should be nose blockage.
I would recommend to use the most possible protective measures you have at your work to prevent getting exposed from this toxins and molds. Drink plenty of water, make sure to clean your nose in deep as much as possible, and keep an eye of other symptoms.
If the problem persist, then you should rule out the other serious causes of parosmia. So consider a visit to your local doctor to do a thorough evaluation, because he knows your health much better then me, and can also make a physical exam and labs needed.

Hope I answered your question. Let me know if I can help further.

Regards,
Dr. Papaqako.

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