Residents Urged to Avoid Prolonged Outdoor Activities near Dominguez Channel

Long Beach, CA - City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis today warnedLong Beach residents about potential unhealthy air quality due to the hydrogen sulfide produced in nearby Carson. The hydrogen sulfide, produced by rotting organic matter coupled with low tides, has created a rotten egg smellover the past couple of weeks.

The Southern California Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), which is the pollution control agency for Southern California, continues to monitor the situation and is working with Los Angeles County departments to mitigate the issue. The County also offers temporary relocation assistance and funding to purchase air filtersfor residents who are impacted.

Those near the Dominguez Channel are encouraged to avoid prolonged outdoor activities between the hours of 9 p.m. and8 a.m., based on observed air quality patterns, as well as any time odors are particularly strong. The Dominguez Channel runs roughly parallel to the Terminal Island (103) Freewaybut is not within Long Beach borders.

The levels noted can cause notable discomfortorirritation; however, the effects are not expected to be disabling, and are expected to be transient and reversible as the exposure decreases or stops.

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