(Sept. 14, 2015, 10:40 p.m.) -- Once again, neighborhoods along the coast from at least Belmont Heights to Belmont Shore, and inland into eastern parts of Long Beach experienced another "mystery stink," a sulphurous/petroleum type odor of unknown cause, content and origin in the 1 p.m. hour today (Sept. 14.)

Shortly after 1 p.m., a Belmont Shore resident (about two blocks form the beach) reported "a really strong crude oil type smell...[and] the breeze is coming from the ocean..." We're told that the odor was experienced in the Wilson High area (10th St/Ximeno) and residents as far north as Wardlow Rd./Bellflower Blvd. noticed it. A Millikan High student (south of Spring St. at Palo Verde) says whatever it was stung his eyes and nose. A resident in the South of Conant/ELB area said she smelled it fairly strongly.

[Scroll down for further]

The Belmont Shore resident took the time and effort to call SCAQMD, and says the agency called back and indicated they were able to follow the odor by the calls they received. "It's up to Lakewood by now," an agency staffer said.

Those who telephoned the LB Gas Dept's emergency line to report the odor got this recording:

You have reached the Gas emergency line. We are experiencing a large colume of calls due to an area odor. The Fire and Gas department are investigating at this time. If you smell gas from outside, please wait 35 to 45 minutes and if the odor persists, call back at 570-2140. Thank you.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Whatever it was wasn't caused by the LB Gas Dept. LBFD says it received about [very roughly] 20 calls roughly from Belmont Heights to Belmont Shore and (as in previous stinks) wasn't able to pinpoint the odor's source. [LBREPORT.com was unable to follow-up with SCAQMD during the day Sept. 14.]

Whatever the odor was dissipated relatively quickly; by the 2 p.m hour, it was basically gone...but (again) a mystery as to chemical composition and source.

A little over two weeks ago, LB had another "mystery stink" on Aug. 31, when at about 8:30 p.m. extending into the 9:00 p.m. hour LBFD began receiving reports of a foul odor, mainly along along shoreline areas and parts of southerly ELB. From our Facebook page and email in that incident: Alamitos Heights. Belmont Shore (2nd/Ravenna; 2nd/Tivoli). Bellflower/Willow. Clark/Wardlow. Park Estates. Palo Verde/Atherton. PCH/7th ("so bad I had to roll the car windows up because my eyes were burning.")

Scroll down for further

Advertisement

Advertisement

LBREPORT.com also reported a "mystery stink" on October 13, 2014, which began about 6 p.m. and was reported by residents in and around downtown Long Beach and adjacent areas, again an odor of unknown origin and unknown chemical composition. That was preceded by an intense incident on March 16, 2014, with an odor experienced across a fairly wide area mainly from downtown Long Beach to Cherry Ave. beginning at late afternoon and lasting for roughly three hours into the evening.

There were also similar instances in 2013 and 2012.

Advertisement

Advertisement

On November 18, 2014, the South Coast Air Quality Management held a town hall meeting at the Golden Sails Hotel on the repeated area odors. AQMD representatives provided information and urged residents to report area odors. AQMD, which is the regional government agency responsible for protecting public health from air pollutants, has faced the task of having to swiftly capture real-time air samples for testing. At the AQMD town hall meeting, some residents volunteered to do this and there was some discussion of doing so. We don't know whether that system, or some other capture system, has been implemented and if so, what been learned.

Further to follow.