Smell of gas in Attica: three probable sources named

After the strong smell that alarmed me the day before Atticaexperts voiced three main scenarios: source in Saronic Gulfwork with ships or even a natural phenomenon associated with phytoplankton.

Strong smell which was felt in many areas on Tuesday Atticacaused concern among residents and a wave of inspections by services. At the moment, it is considered most likely three scenarios the origin of this stench, and the version of a natural gas leak is gradually fading into the background.

Experts have named three likely causes for the strong odor in Attica: work in the ship repair zone, a tanker in Saronica or phytoplankton. pic.twitter.com/wFkQdPEFRr

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As stated on the air of the program “Κοινωνία ώρα Mega” professor of environmental engineering Demosthenis Saryyannisthe source of the odor is reportedly located in the area Saronic Gulf. According to him, we are not talking about a leak of natural gas or a release at an industrial facility.

“This was not a natural gas leak or a leak at any industrial facility. We concluded that the source is in Saronica, and there are two main, most likely scenarios,” he said.

Two scenarios from the Saronic Gulf region

According to Sariyannisthe first scenario is related to ship repair zone between Peramoy And Salaminawhere repairs and dismantling of ships are carried out. In this case, the smell could have been caused by work on the ship’s tanks.

The second probable option is tankeranchored off Aegina. According to the professor, the smell could have arisen during the cleaning of his tanks.

He also stressed that satellite data showed no signs of a release, e.g. sulfur dioxideand the gas network operator ruled out a pressure drop in the system. This, in fact, seriously weakens the version of the problem in the gas infrastructure.

As reported in Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greeceafter contact with Διαχειριστής Εθνικού Συστήματος Φυσικού Αερίου (operator of the National Natural Gas System, ΔΕΣΦΑ) signs of a leak or other problem at the site Revitus and in other parts of the network it was not detected.

For my part Ελληνική Εταιρεία Διανομής Αερίων Αττικής (Greek Attica Gas Distribution Company) also stated that it had not recorded any similar failure. Additional checks were carried out by Limeniko: The coast guard inspected the gas vessels, but no incidents were reported.

Third scenario: phytoplankton

The third version was voiced by a chemistry professor Democritus University of Thrace Michalis Halaris. He rejected the possibility of a natural gas or liquefied gas leak and suggested that the smell could be caused by phytoplankton in the area Argosaronic Gulfwhose activity may increase due to climate change.

According to him, the competent services should have immediately carried out full-fledged air quality measurements and analysis for contaminants. Halaris was critical of the fact that with such a noticeable and not yet fully explained phenomenon, the response mechanism was not fully activated.

“If the mechanism were fully activated, measurements and analyzes would be carried out. We didn’t know the origin of the phenomenon, we didn’t know anything – there was only a strong smell,” he noted.

The professor also criticized the actions civil protectionpointing out that evacuating schools and premises without a clear understanding of the cause of the smell seemed controversial. According to him, in the event of the spread of a chemical factor, it is usually recommended not to evacuate, but stay indoors.

Radon doesn’t smell

The version about the connection between the smell and a possible earthquake is actually rejected by seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos. He recalled that before strong earthquakes, sometimes the release of gases is recordedFor example radonbut radon has no smell and is detected only by special devices. That’s why strong stenchwhich the residents felt Atticadoes not seem like such a scenario.

What is known so far

At this time, there is no officially confirmed cause for the smell. However, of the three working versions, two are related to the marine zone and ship activities, and the third is related to the natural process in the water area. The version of a gas network malfunction has not yet been confirmed either by inspections or technical data.

The situation also showed another chronic problem: when the authorities do not give a quick and clear answer, the void is instantly filled with rumors, panic and the wildest versions – from an industrial accident to a harbinger of an earthquake. In such cases, people do not need general phrases, but a clear explanation: what exactly was checked, what was excluded, and what still remains in question.

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