Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Officials with Louisville's Metro Air Pollution Control District say they've identified the source of the bad odor that residents have been complaining about for a week.
The agency told news outlets a naturally occurring chemical in the soil called geosmin is to blame for a musty, mildew-like smell that has led to dozens of complaints.
Air district spokesman Tom Nord said the chemical has a low odor threshold and has been "exacerbated by the wet, muddy conditions in the wake of the recent snowfall and rain."
Nord said the smell is not toxic and isn't coming from industrial sites. He said the Louisville Water Company has dealt with geosmin previously and told the pollution control district that it might be to blame.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.