Officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works confirmed Wednesday that an ongoing investigation into a foul odor emanating from the Dominguez Channel in Carson may be connected to chemicals illegally dumped by local industrial facilities.
Although public works officials have identified decaying organic matter as the likely cause of the odor, testing has also detected persistent levels of hydrogen sulfide in channel waters.
Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said in a virtual town hall on Wednesday that while release of hydrogen sulfide is to be expected in instances of large scale vegetation decay, the duration of both the smell and elevated H₂S levels is "troubling."
“We’ve had a more extended and persistent release of hydrogen peroxide than we have ever experienced,” Pestrella said.
The department has not ruled out the theory that incidents of illegal chemical dumping may themselves have triggered mass organic decay in channel, producing significant H₂S release.
The investigation, Pestrella said, now encompasses local refineries, chemical plants, and other industrial sites in the vicinity of the channel. Hypothetical dumping may have been intentional, or naturally caused by a recent magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Carson that may have shaken contaminated material loose.
“We’re attempting to rule out as many things as we can,” Pestrella said, “and will continue to do so until the end of this incident.”
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