Houston Area Petrochem Upset Event??

[Frank_Discussion]

Any Houstonians in the Southeast part of town step outside tonight? It smells NASTY. I know, I know, smelling up the news sounds funny, but you would have to smell it. I've lived in houston 30 of my 35 years, and about ten of those down here in the Clear Lake/Pasadena area, and I know what stenches can issue from the chem plants.

I've never smelled THIS - it's almost like someone detonated a city-sized rotten mango down here! Really, it has me concerned. It literally took my breath away.

Does anyone know what it might be?

[Frank_Discussion]

I'm turning in, too. The smell has abated (yes, my sense of smell is still fine) so I guess it was a "quickie". Thanks to all for your help!

[Calpernia]

pinging before reading (IOW...you may be here already)

[nwctwx]

http://kamala.cod.edu/tx/latest.fxus64.KHGX.html

Nothing from the NWS, they tend to cover weather-caused oddities in their Area Forecast Discussions.

[GeronL]

Houston is gonna blowed up real good ain't it?

just kidding

[nwctwx]

BTW, the smell may be coming from the ocean (don't know how far you are from it)... that's where the prevailing winds are coming from.

[Calpernia]

My nephew lives there now. Hence I've held back from jokes. Please ping me back if you know anything serious, ok?

Otherwise, I've missed out on fun FR trolling :)

THANKS!

[capitan_refugio]

Methyl mercaptan is a natural byproduct of the digestion of asparagus and similar vegetables ;^)

[Selene]

Nothing on the city wided scanner.

Tabun nerve agent has a fruity odor, GF nerve gas smells like peaches and shellac, Soman nerve agent is also fruity.

If it was any of the above you would already be dead or have difficulty breathing, irritated eyes or nausea,

[Cindy]

A late good night to you too Judith Anne.
Sleep well.

[Ichneumon]

Methyl mercaptan is a natural byproduct of the digestion of asparagus and similar vegetables ;^)

Wow, I didn't know that asparagus *had* digestion.

[Ptarmigan]

Yes, I sure do :). Do you know what a ptarmigan is by any chance?

[Ptarmigan]

So am I. I guess you live on the east side. That's where most of the petrochemical industry are.

[Ichneumon]

Tabun nerve agent has a fruity odor, GF nerve gas smells like peaches and shellac, Soman nerve agent is also fruity. If it was any of the above you would already be dead or have difficulty breathing, irritated eyes or nausea,

Normally I'd write this off as just another weird chemical-plant byproduct in that area, but the report of something similar around San Antonio strikes me as odd.

I agree that chemical weapons would have produced more noticeable effects almost immediately, but I wonder if airborne biological weapons might have a distinctive smell. It's probably nothing, so don't panic, but it did get me wondering.

On the other hand, maybe Frank's neighbor was eating a durian fruit...

The stench of this fruit has been described as similar to a corpse stuffed with overripe cheese, rotten onions, and turpentine. But it's supposed to taste divine, if you can get past the reek.

[Erasmus]

If you're talkng about the additive one smells when a gas stove runs unlit, then no. Very different stink.

Ethel Merman, Captain.

[Selene]

the report of something similar around San Antonio

San Antonio? When and were was the report? On this thread?

durian fruit... YUM

[TXnMA]

Sorry I came late to your party (query)! I might have been able to help. I lived in Pasadena, on the Spencer Highway just west of Red Bluff Road, and I grew familiar with all the 'aromas' from plants along the channel to our north. (Plus, I did construction work in most of them).

"Pasadena/Clear Lake" is a fairly large area; could you be a bit more precise as to your location?

Since you say the wind is southerly, (the prevailing direction in that area) I agree with others that what you are smelling is probably emanating from Texas City. (I also worked on/in most of the plants in TC. )

My guess is that you are smelling one of the PVC (PolyVinylChloride) precursors (?Polyvinyl Acetate?) from the Union Carbide Texas City plant. The nectarine-like smell was so pervasive in the plant that I stopped eating nectarines for several months after working there.

However, I never recall smelling the UC plant as far inland as where we lived. (I went to grade school in Golden Acres -- in the Pasadena School system.) If you are north of Clear Lake, there must have been a significant release for you to smell the UC plant...

Glad it has tapered offf -- and hope your "smeller" hasn't just gotten fatigued and gone inoperative.

If you find anything out, how about a ping -- or a FReepmail...

Good luck...

[weegee]

"The air pollution is a foggin' up my eyes." - Ray Davies Apeman

I suspected that this account could have something to do with it but I didn't smell anything when I went out.

The grass pollen has been higher lately though. Must be my allergies.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yep, though I've never actually seen one. Some day I just might take a boat to the Ted Stevens docks or fly to the Ted Stevens airport, where I'll take Ted Stevens Drive up to the Ted Stevens Memorial Hhighway, rent a lodge at Ted Stevens state park, and do a little hunting...

[Diddle E. Squat]

Of course now I'm a bit curious about why you chose your name, was it based on an AK connection, simply liking that particular breed, or something else?

[Ichneumon]

San Antonio? When and were was the report? On this thread?

Post #40.