The smell of death

Smells like rotten eggs. awesome. I thought: Oh my God, something is in the fence.

This is how Lixia Livingston describes her first encounter with the stench that has been rife in her hometown four weeks ago, according to Watchman.

Something is rotten in Carson, California—more specifically in the Dominguez Canal, which runs 25 kilometers through the city.

Local authorities say the foul odor stems from vegetation and other matter that lurks and rots in the water and releases hydrogen sulfide gas. CBS.

“Fis,” “smell of a corpse,” and “smell of death” are just some of the terms the townspeople used to describe the smell.

– One resident said during a hearing about two weeks ago, that the stench could wipe out a herd of rhinos. vice.

But the smell isn’t just a nuisance. Many residents say that gas affects their health.

Headache and nausea

Livingston is among those who have experienced health problems as a result of the gas, according to The Guardian. She says she suffered from headaches, fatigue, nausea and loss of appetite.

Anna Minnie, who has lived in Carson for 42 years, tells CBS Los Angeles She suffered from “persistent headaches, bouts of nausea and dizziness”.

Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless, toxic, and flammable gas with the distinct odor of rotten eggs, according to The great Norwegian encyclopedia.

Inhalation of small amounts can irritate the mucous membranes of the airways, while high concentrations can cause headache, calf muscle pain, and in some cases “extreme shortness of breath”.

Carson, in partnership with Los Angeles County, has helped 1,300 residents stay in hotels outside of the hardest-hit areas. Some residents also received air purifiers at the governorate’s expense, according to what was reported shearing.

Local authorities acknowledge that the gas can cause nausea and headaches, but maintain that levels are too low to cause lasting health problems, according to Los Angeles Times.

Asking Biden for help

On Monday, the city declared a state of local crisis, according to Los Angeles Times.

Meanwhile, Lula County Mayor Davis Holmes, California Governor Gavin Christopher Newsom and President Joe Biden also called for a state of emergency, according to CBS Los Angeles.

Local authorities first learned of the stench on October 3. Soon after, rotting material was discovered in the canal and procedures were carried out. In addition to trying to neutralize the gas, cleaning teams sprayed the canal with deodorant.

Water tests tell us that our efforts are paying off. “We’re making progress, and we’re seeing a downward trend in odor-causing hydrogen sulfide gas,” Mark Pastrella, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, said Wednesday night.

However, there is uncertainty about the exact cause of the bad odor. Inspectors are investigating, among other things, whether the September earthquake caused emissions from local industrial buildings.

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– He’s still sick

Last week, the local Los Angeles Office of Public Health recommended residents avoid spending a lot of time outdoors between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. in the morning, based on measurements of gas concentration in the air — and to stay indoors as much as possible when the smell is particular. strong.

At the same time, they recommended that residents keep their pets indoors – and be especially aware of symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty breathing and vomiting.

Carson’s resident Anna Minnie isn’t a pop-up.

They tell us the levels are low, but our bodies tell us something else. Why do we still get sick? She tells the Guardian.