Gas-like odor in South Jersey isn’t dangerous, but may linger, officials say

After widespread complaints of a gas odor that smelled like rotten eggs in South Jersey, officials determined the smell was coming from a hazardous chemical called Lubrizol-1389.

The chemical, which is used as a machine lubricant, has an additive that emits a “nuisance odor” that lingers. The additive is heavy, low-lying, and lingering, with a pungent odor, East Greenwich Township Police Chief Matt Brenner said at a Thursday afternoon press conference.

Brenner, along with officials from the Gloucester County Health Department, Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection reassured the public that there was no health risk and that technicians continued to monitor air quality.

As of Thursday afternoon, there was no known health risk to residents, officials said.

Brenner said the gas and ensuing smell came from a tanker trailer full of the chemical, but was not a leak, as initially reported. As the product heats up in the tank, the tank has a failsafe that allows the gas to escape through a pressure release valve to avoid buildup, he said.

“The odor can be strong and noxious, but it is just that: a strong odor and a nuisance odor,” said Brenner.

According to the Lubrizol website, the chemical is not generally toxic when inhaled.

Reiterating that the gas tends to linger, Dwayne Harrington, on-scene coordinator with the Environmental Protection Agency, said that there was not a timeline for when the smell would go away.

East Greenwich Township officials said the odor came from a Paulsboro Township truck stop with a trailer containing 7,000 gallons of the chemical, which has a rotten-egg smell. The smell affected towns in Gloucester County and other nearby areas.

It caused a shelter-in-place directive Wednesday night for East Greenwich, Gibbstown, Paulsboro, and areas near the truck stop on Berkley Road, which was lifted after about two hours.

At the press conference, Brenner said that the investigation was ongoing, but authorities had been talking with the truck driver, the manufacturer of the chemical, and the company that was transporting the chemical.

Anyone experiencing symptoms of irritation that include eye itching, sore throat, vomiting, and headache should seek medical attention, said Ann Marie Ruiz, the health officer for the Gloucester County Health Department.

Brenner asked anyone with questions or concerns to call a live call center set up for the incident at 856-384-6800.