The mysterious odor people reported from Chehalis to Portland last month may be tied to Longview's WestRock mill, according to a spokesperson from the Washington Department of Ecology.
Brittny Goodsell, communications manager for the Southwest Region Office for the Washington State Department of Ecology, said the department is investigating WestRock’s air quality data, which could be tied to the September odor complaints.
As of now, she said there is no confirmation WestRock violated its air quality permit, which she said requires organizations to minimize its operations’ odors if nearby people are affected.
WestRock did not immediately respond to inquiries.
The Cowlitz County Department of Emergency Management reported Cowlitz County 911 started receiving complaints about the smell at about 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 24, while reports of the odor traveling as south as Portland throughout the evening.
People described the smell as similar to burning rubber, garbage, ammonia or natural gas, with some saying it caused symptoms such as itchy eyes, headaches and sore throats.
However, PeaceHealth spokesperson Debra Carnes said no patients were admitted during that time due to the odor.
Also at that time, Cowlitz County Fire District 5 and the Cowlitz County Department of Emergency Management reported they questioned companies, such as Longview’s Nippon Dynawave and Kalama’s LanXess, about the origin of the smell, according to previous reports.
The Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted tests in the Longview area two days after the odor was first reported but found nothing abnormal.
Despite reports of negative reactions, Goodsell previously said the smell has not been deemed as dangerous.
She added that when people smell dangerous odors like the chemicals added to natural gas to alert them of a possible spill, the exposure isn’t immediately hazardous.
