Residents of Carson, CA were recently inundated with a foul odor that resulted in nausea, constant headaches, and having to evacuate due to the stench in the air. The horrible smell traveled to areas nearby such as Redondo Beach, Torrance, Gardena, and Long Beach. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recommended that residents avoid prolonged outdoor activities between the hours of 9 PM and 8 AM. They advised the residents to monitor their pets and keep them indoors. But what was this putrid smell?
It turns out that the smell was a result of a huge industrial fire that occurred in September. According to South Coast Air Quality Management District, two companies were storing large amounts of wellness and beauty products in the warehouse which burned. The chemicals from the products, which included ethanol, went into the sewer system and entered the Dominguez Channel.
Following an investigation, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued five notices of violation to multiple companies, along with Los Angeles County, for allegedly causing the elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide to enter the Dominguez Channel. South Coast Air Quality Management District has received more than 4,600 odor complaints from residents. It also found that hydrogen sulfide levels were 230 times higher than the state nuisance standard. A group of residents brought a class-action lawsuit against the businesses associated with the warehouse over the odor.
Gross