© JEFF GRITCHENSome residents in Huntington Beach and Seal Beach have been complaining about chemical-like odors. Authorities over the years have offered residents several unsubstantiated theories including offshore vessels and oilfields.
The noxious odors have induced headaches, burning of the eyes and throat, nosebleeds and vomiting, she says. Even her dog and two cats have retched during the malodorous episodes that "about knocks you on your knees," Wainwright said.
Roughly 10 miles away in coastal Seal Beach, resident Susan Perrell reports suffering similar foul odors. Perrell, an environmental adviser to an oil and gas company, also describes a petroleum-like stench that can be intense enough to "knock you over."
Their experiences are far from isolated.
Last month, air-quality regulators saw a spike in such complaints in the Huntington Beach and Seal Beach area. Over several consecutive days, the South Coast Air Quality Management District fielded dozens of calls involving "a nasty egg odor (or a) petroleum odor," said agency spokesman Sam Atwood.
Comment: Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas with the characteristic foul odor of rotten eggs; it is heavier than air, very poisonous, corrosive, flammable, and explosive. Exposure can lead to various health problems, and may be fatal. It is also being linked with psychological and neurological problems in humans.
Residents also have lodged complaints with fire officials, the gas company and others, seeking help in pinpointing the source of the smells, which many say have increased in frequency and intensity over the past two years.
But no one has identified a definitive cause or culprit.
Comment: Unprecedented marine heatwaves could be attributed to increased quantities of CO2, methane, hydrogen sulfide outgassing and heat coming up from below, i.e. passing up through the oceans from within the planet, heating and acidifying the planet's oceans.
Such activity may be a significant contributory factor to the increasing number of bizarre, odd (perhaps even mutated species), previously unknown and mysterious creatures being discovered recently, together with increases in abnormal animal and marine behavior. All over the world such 'strange' and 'unusual' incidents are quickly becoming the norm, as are mass fish die offs.
Some related reports from the Huntington beach area in recent times include: