Mystery deepens around foul odor declared a ‘public nuisance’ by California city

A noxious stench some describe as resembling the zombies of “The Walking Dead” continues to plague a Southern California city, officials say.

An earlier theory blaming the odor, identified as hydrogen sulfide, on a leaky pipeline has been disproved, Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes of Carson reported on Facebook.

Residents spoke out about the stink Monday at a city council hearing in which officials declared it a “public nuisance” and called for solutions, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“It’s making us sick,” Lorena Rodriguez told KABC. “I’ve been suffering with migraines — not only me but a lot of friends, family members, neighbors have been complaining about sickness. Me and my husband have been throwing up — not only us, but our animals.”

The smell has been variously described as resembling burning tires, rotten eggs, vomit or an open sewer, McClatchy News reported.

Davis-Holmes had said Sunday on Facebook that a leaky pipe was behind the smell, but later said that had been ruled out.

Mark Pestrella, the Los Angeles County public works director, said Sunday officials now think the odor may come from decaying organic matter in the Dominguez Channel, the Los Angeles Times reported. He blamed the problem on the drought.

“I can’t really predict for you how long it will go, but as long as the material is there and we have the conditions we have right now — no rain — it could continue and it could be intermittent,” Pestrella told KABC.

More than 200 people have complained about the smell in recent days, McClatchy News reported.

Officials have said the stink does not pose a health risk but advised residents near the channel to keep their doors and windows closed, KNBC reported.

“We’re getting the runaround and we’re not getting any solid help,” resident Ana Meni told KABC.

Carson is a city of 92,000 people in Los Angeles County, north of Long Beach.

This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 8:37 AM with the headline "Mystery deepens around foul odor declared a ‘public nuisance’ by California city."