The atmosphere in a Staten Island neighborhood has been anything but pleasant, as residents endure a pervasive odor that has persisted for months. This unwelcome scent has caused discomfort, triggering nausea and eye irritation, and in some cases, forcing people to temporarily leave their homes.
In the Bulls Head community, frustration is mounting as locals seek explanations for the foul smell that began after roadwork on Merrill Avenue last December. The stench has infiltrated homes, prompting residents to explore any means possible to breathe easily once more, according to a report from WABC.
Resident Amity Nigro described the unbearable odor as reminiscent of “rotten eggs, gas, and sewer.”
“We’re really struggling here,” Nigro expressed to the news outlet. “Our children are affected too.”
Despite efforts involving scented candles, air purifiers, and sealing doors, Nigro reported that the persistent odor continues to invade their living spaces, making it difficult to find relief.
Despite using scented candles, air purifiers, and sealing their doors, she said nothing can keep the overpowering stench from suffocating their homes.
Deborah Phelps-Seda said rank odor has driven her and her two kids out of their home on at least five separate occasions, with the situation making her feel “helpless.”
“Because the smell was burning our eyes, making us nauseous, giving us headaches – that’s why we had to evacuate up to five times already,” she told the outlet, adding she was first told back in December that the stench was coming from the sewer.
“They were opening up the road and it smelled really bad, so I had went out there and asked them about the situation and the smell was coming into my house and they told me it was the sewer.”
Since then, the city’s Department of Environmental Protection has inspected and cleaned the sewers, with a gas leak also ruled out, as the noxious smell continues unabated.
The DEP told the outlet they have also installed filtration devices in area manholes in an effort to curb the smell, while monitoring wastewater and conducting air sampling, but said the sewers are functioning as intended as the investigation into the cause continues.
Rather than waiting for DEP to pinpoint the cause, City Councilman David Carr said he contacted the city Health Department to evaluate how the unusual odor might be affecting residents’ health.
“I think it needs a fresh set of eyes,” he said.
“Also, a lot of residents are complaining of health symptoms that are really troubling to hear.”
