SCAQMD Issues Odor Advisory due to Elevated Hydrogen Sulfide Levels Near Salton Sea
Thursday 18 September 2014 01:45:00 PM
Location: Salton Sea Beach
Categorie: Bad air Quality Conditions
Description:
SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT SCAQMD Issues Odor Advisory due to Elevated Hydrogen Sulfide Levels Near Salton Sea This advisory is in effect today and will expire at Midnight, September 18, 2014. If conditions warrant, SCAQMD will update this information. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued an odor advisory today for the Coachella Valley due to elevated levels of a gas that smells like rotten eggs. That gas – hydrogen sulfide – is associated with natural processes occurring in the Salton Sea. Hourly average concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) peaked last night at 46 parts per billion for one hour immediately downwind of the Salton Sea – at a monitor close to the shore, in an area with little population. The levels then quickly dropped to the normal range. The monitor in Mecca, a more populated community further downwind, did not exceed the state standard of 30 parts per billion. High H2S levels are not expected today, but if winds from the southeast do occur, areas in the Coachella Valley may briefly experience the odors. The state standard for outdoor levels of hydrogen sulfide is 30 parts per billion averaged over one hour. At that level, most individuals can smell the odor and some may experience symptoms such as headaches and nausea. However, the symptoms associated with this level of exposure are temporary and do not cause any long-term health effects. Humans can detect hydrogen sulfide odors at extremely low concentrations, down to a few parts per billion. SCAQMD monitors hydrogen sulfide at two locations in the southeastern Coachella Valley – one very close to the Salton Sea and the other in the community of Mecca. There is potential for Salton Sea odors to occur as the winds shift, especially in the late summer months in the early morning and evening, or as thunderstorms occur in the southwestern U.S. deserts More information on Hydrogen Sulfide can be found at the following link: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxguides/toxguide-114.pdf SCAQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. SCAQMD Advisory updates can be found at the following link: ftp://ftp.aqmd.gov/pub/globalist/Advisory.pdf To subscribe to air quality alerts, advisories and forecasts by email, go to AirAlerts.org Daniel Wong Legislative & Public Affairs South Coast Air Quality Management District (909) 396-3046 dwong@aqmd.gov