Mystery Odor Causes Several Hundred Emergency Calls in Southern California

Cinnaminson, NJ, September 13th, 2012

Earlier this week, Los Angeles’ KTLA reported that the Los Angeles Fire Department had received hundreds of phone calls regarding a disturbing mystery odor.  According to the report, “KTLA viewers reported the stench over a wide area -- from Fontana, Redlands and Hesperia to the north San Fernando Valley to Valencia.”

The odor was described as smelling like a mixture of rotten eggs and sulfur.  A spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection stated that the odor is most likely coming from the Salton Sea and that similar incidents have occurred in the past.

Mystery odors occur on a regular basis across the country.  They can be caused by a wide range of reasons that can occur both from within a building or infiltrate a structure from an outside source as appears to be the case with the recent foul odors in Southern California. 
 
These mystery odors are at times easy for professionals to identify.  Other times they can be a real challenge, requiring air sampling to help pinpoint the makeup of the odor and to eventually locate the source of the odor. 
 
One of the nation’s foremost testing laboratories for analyzing mystery odor samples is EMSL Analytical, Inc.  “At EMSL and our sister laboratory network in California, LA Testing, we have access to the latest field sampling equipment, laboratory testing equipment and world renowned scientists,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical and LA Testing.  “Mystery odors can simply be a nuisance, but at other times they can signal a health risk to people.  Air sampling during an occurrence can identify the culprit so that their can be a resolution of the problem,” he continued.
 
LA Testing recently sponsored an educational video about mystery odors that can be seen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eDzaVWPBGY
 
To learn more about air testing for mystery odors or other indoor air quality (IAQ) and environmental concerns, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. 
 
About EMSL Analytical, Inc. & LA Testing
EMSL Analytical and LA Testing are nationally recognized and locally focused providers of environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public.  The companies have an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical

(1) 1-866-798-1089

jfrasca@emsl.com