Gas-like odor permeates parts of Manhattan

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Gas-like odor permeates parts of Manhattan
Part of PATH train system shut; Macy’s evacuated over undetermined smell
NBC VIDEO


• Strange odor
Jan. 8: Hundreds of residents call police, fire services as gas-like smell permeates areas of Manhattan.
MSNBC



• Gas Smelled Over Large Area Of Manhattan
BREAKING NEWS

Updated: 4 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Authorities were investigating the source of a mysterious gas-like odor Monday that stretched across a large part of Manhattan, including Rockefeller Center.

The Fire Department began getting calls about the odor around 9 a.m. Monday, said spokesman Tim Hinchey. No source had been identified.

There also were unconfirmed reports of a similar smell across the river in New Jersey.


Part of the New York-New Jersey PATH commuter train system was shut due to the smell.

“The service has been suspended between Hoboken and 33rd (Street) and Journal Square and 33rd pending an investigation by Con Ed and the fire department,” PATH spokesman Pasquale Difulco said.

Macy’s department store in Midtown was evacuated, according to reports on the WNBC Web site, and CNN reported that one office building had been evacuated.

Utility officials with utility company Consolidated Edison had no immediate comment.

In August, a gaseous smell hit parts of Queens and Staten Island, sending seven people to the hospital.

Consolidated Edison officials had no immediate comment.

Please check back for more on this developing story.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16524813/

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

I'm listening to Mayor Bloomberg trying to appease the public to prevent a panic. He named what the substance is, mercaptan. I googled it. Even though Bloomberg is assuring folks it's not dangerous (how does he know, is he a chemist?)...here's what I've found thus far (I wiki'ed it too):

The United States material safety data sheet (MSDS) lists methanethiol as a colorless, flammable, gas with an extremely strong and repulsive smell. At very high concentrations it is highly toxic and affects the central nervous system. Its penetrating odor provides warning at dangerous concentrations.

If I were in NYC I'd get inside, turn off all AC and heating, try to seal windows really tight...if I could not evacuate the city.



Remember the lies about air quality of 9/11...they assure folks of safety just to prevent panics.

P.S. Also just found this item:

St. Petersburg incident

On December 26, 2005, dozens of people at a St. Petersburg, Russia Maksidom home supplies store were sickened when gas suspected to be methanethiol was released. The store had received letters threatening to disrupt business during the holiday gift-giving season. Three other stores belonging to the same chain found boxes with glass containers and timers that also might have been rigged to release the gas.

P.S. This is from the CDC website:

How can methyl mercaptan affect my health?

Very little is known about the health effects of methyl mercaptan. The only information available is about a worker exposed to very high levels of this compound when he opened and emptied tanks of this compound. He developed anemia, went into a coma, and died about a month later.

We do not know whether long-term exposure to low levels of methyl mercaptan can result in harmful health effects.
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How likely is methyl mercaptan to cause cancer?

There is no information available about whether methyl mercaptan causes cancer in people or animals. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the EPA have not classified methyl mercaptan for carcinogenicity.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I agree with you Carol. I am a little concerned because my DD goes to school in the city......I hope that it turns out to be nothing, however, it's strange!!!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Another thing......I know that they are saying that there is no connection to terrorism. However, I remember reading that Al Quida has mentioned the possibility of using gas leaks to make bombs, out of buildings in Manhattan.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

I called one of my friends who works at Ninth and Bway. She had no idea about the problem and can't smell it at all. She was in the Port Authority and subway this morning during rush hour, didn't smell anything.

She also googled the substance. Did you know it's the "scent" they put in natural gas so that we can detect gas leaks? (Natural gas is colorless and odorless on its own, so we wouldn't be able to detect it without the added scent.)

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

My wife works in a public School in the area near our home. She just received an email from the head office alerting them to keep the kids indoors. The smell apparently has made it to Metropolitan ave.

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

I called one of my friends who works at Ninth and Bway. She had no idea about the problem and can't smell it at all. She was in the Port Authority and subway this morning during rush hour, didn't smell anything.

She also googled the substance. Did you know it's the "scent" they put in natural gas so that we can detect gas leaks? (Natural gas is colorless and odorless on its own, so we wouldn't be able to detect it without the added scent.)

Yep, it's what they use to detect gas leaks. But the substance itself might cause health problems in high concentrations. The fact that folks are still smelling it seems to me cause for alarm. I sure wouldn't let kids or pets outside and would stay inside myself if I could avoid being out.

Btw the substance is also found in decomposing matter and it's what gives flatulence its odor. So next time you're in your hottub Frank, making your own bubbles, you will know!

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

You know I knew that one piece of Califlower I had last night was going to cause a problem.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Bird Deaths Shut Down Downtown Austin

Bird Deaths Shut Down Downtown Austin
Jan 8, 11:50 AM (ET)
By JIM VERTUNO


AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Police shut down 10 blocks of businesses in the heart of downtown early Monday after dozens of birds were found dead in the streets, but officials said preliminary tests showed no dangerous chemicals in the air.

As many as 60 dead pigeons, sparrows and grackles were found overnight along Congress Avenue, a main route through downtown. No human injuries or illnesses were reported.

"We do not feel there is a threat to the public health," said Adolfo Valadez, the medical director for Austin and Travis County Health and Human Services. He said preliminary air-quality tests showed no dangerous chemicals and the area should reopen around noon.....

Article here

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

You know I knew that one piece of Califlower I had last night was going to cause a problem.

Were you in Austin, too?

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I heard this, too. How very strange

Bird Deaths Shut Down Downtown Austin
Jan 8, 11:50 AM (ET)
By JIM VERTUNO


AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Police shut down 10 blocks of businesses in the heart of downtown early Monday after dozens of birds were found dead in the streets, but officials said preliminary tests showed no dangerous chemicals in the air.

As many as 60 dead pigeons, sparrows and grackles were found overnight along Congress Avenue, a main route through downtown. No human injuries or illnesses were reported.

"We do not feel there is a threat to the public health," said Adolfo Valadez, the medical director for Austin and Travis County Health and Human Services. He said preliminary air-quality tests showed no dangerous chemicals and the area should reopen around noon.....

Article here

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

The birds have been acting very weird around here. A few weeks ago I was visiting a friend nearby and we saw a huge, huge, HUGE flock of crows (I think?) flying from backyard to backyard. It was like the Hitchcock movie.

Last week, the birds were back, and they were in MY YARD. There were hundreds of them, the ground was almost black with them. I woke up my youngest DD to come see (she was the only one home). It was scary. I opened the back door and we looked out the screen and the dog barked like mad, but the birds were completely unfrightened--in fact some of the birds in my next-door neighbor's yard came over to see what was going on in my yard!

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Were you in Austin, too?

You know I knew that one piece of Califlower I had last night was going to cause a problem.

When Frank let's 'em go the whole world quakes

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

The birds have been acting very weird around here. A few weeks ago I was visiting a friend nearby and we saw a huge, huge, HUGE flock of crows (I think?) flying from backyard to backyard. It was like the Hitchcock movie.

Last week, the birds were back, and they were in MY YARD. There were hundreds of them, the ground was almost black with them. I woke up my youngest DD to come see (she was the only one home). It was scary. I opened the back door and we looked out the screen and the dog barked like mad, but the birds were completely unfrightened--in fact some of the birds in my next-door neighbor's yard came over to see what was going on in my yard!

What you saw sounds like typical fall/winter behaviour of starlings in Europe. I don't know if you have the same birds in the US. They only seem to swarm like that at this time of year, but the flocks can be 10's of 1000's strong. It is a fantastic sight, but could be scary if you don't know what it is. The whole display only lasts a few minutes so it's easy to go for years without seeing it.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

They're bigger than starlings, and black. I've seen birds do this kind of thing in the fall, when the weather first starts to get cold, but not so late into the winter. (And not right in my backyard!)

Of course it's been freakishly warm in NYC this year--no snow yet and temps in the 70s over the weekend. Have we even had a hard freeze yet?