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Saturday, August 22, 2009

The Smell - San Francisco needs to take these immediate steps to find the odor



Let's get some of these local experts involved:

 A few observations about Friday's (August 21, 2009) episode:

1) It was first noticed in the early afternoon in the Eastern part of San Francisco - along the waterfront. Is it coming from the Bay? A number of reports suggest so. However, there are a lot of official reports that came in early from the Outer Sunset and Outer Richmond neighborhoods. Either way - East or West - the finger points toward the Bay or the Pacific Ocean.

The source could be a chemical reaction caused by the introduction of some substance. If that turns-out to be the cause, then we need the Coast Guard out looking for the perps. The contact in San Francisco is USCG Sector San Francisco. They are the first agency we should be looking to. They have been saving lives and guarding the coast since 1790. They know what is going on in the Bay and along the coast. What do they have to report? Have they noticed anything unusual?

Or ... the source may be an algal bloom (Red Tide). Check out what the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program says about the changes we can expect living along the coast. We're entering a whole new world.

If the cause is an algal bloom of some variety this may be one of many new experiences for humankind during our planetary climate change. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the most renowned on the planet, is a part of UC San Diego. Relatively speaking, that's right next door. I'll bet they could tell us if there is any strange anomaly along the Pacific Shelf.

2) The odor seems to dissipate quickly under a light breeze. That would suggest the smell is transitory - it's source is not present. That would suggest the smell arrived from ... the Bay? Some reports suggest the smell moved from the East toward the West. However, a number of early reports also came in from the folks living alongside Ocean Beach. If the smell is coming from the ocean it is reasonable that we would first detect the odor near the beach and alongside the docks of the Bay.

3) High tide on August 21, 2009 was at 1324 HRS (just about 1:30 PM). Do you think it's possible the high tide may have included some unwanted toxins or algal blooms? Has the Coast Guard observed anything unusual? What about the local fishermen - they are often the first to sense something unusual. Should we ask the fishermen?

4) What about the odor itself? Has the City consulted with an olfactory scientist and chemist to determine what kinds of chemicals might produce similar odors? That information might give us an important clue where to look. Olfactory scientists and chemists are easy to find in San Francisco. UCSF has one of the most highly respected Biomedical Sciences grad programs in the country.

5) This could be a warning sign for some potential future health issue. The San Francisco Department of Public Health is a key partner in one of the most advanced multi-agency disaster preparedness and medical services programs in the country. When that team goes to work there is a sudden influx of extremely capable medical scientists and medical professionals and technicians with a tenacity of purpose that makes pit bulls look like chihuahuas. What does it take to the pull the alarm and get those folks up and running? Maybe we should call in the A-Team if nothing else pans out and the smell becomes a recurring pest.
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on Saturday, August 22, 2009

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