MARTINEZ — Officials in Contra Costa County issued a health advisory Friday after a strong chemical odor pierced the air, the latest in a series of flaring incidents that have rattled the communities around a cluster of refineries.
The alert was sent to residents through the county’s community warning system about 10:20 a.m., when the incident rose from a “Level 1” event to a “Level 2,” officials said. A Level 2 incident indicates a potentially significant effect on people with breathing issues, officials said in a news briefing late Friday morning.
According to Hazardous Materials Director Nicole Heath, the odor came from flaring at the Martinez Refining Company, located on Marina Vista Ave. She said the company alerted county health officials at 9:15 a.m..
She also added that it’s time for a “close look” at what’s been happening at the refinery.
The company has been involved in a number of incidents over the past 13 months, beginning with one on Thanksgiving 2022, when a white powdery substance with higher-than-normal amounts of heavy metals that can cause breathing issues was emitted.
“We’re concerned about these ongoing events,” county Health Director Oz Tzvieli said, adding that health officials will be having discussions with the refinery and are not opposed to taking further action against it if necessary.
Officials at the Martinez Refining Company could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.
“If you live near the refinery, work near the refinery, have business near the refinery, it’s obviously a huge concern,” Tzvieli said. “Nobody wants to walk around in fear about what may be dusted on their heads and necks.”
A hazardous materials team summoned Friday determined that while the gases caused an awful odor, “all our air-monitoring readings indicate that nothing (with the flaring) exceeded any dangerous levels,” Heath said.
The odor, which officials said was similar to rotten eggs or rotting garbage, likely came from sulfur compounds, which are excess gases created by the the refinery process, Heath said. Residents in Crockett also reported the odor.
“The initial monitoring shows that there are levels of hydrodgen sulfide and other sulfur-containing gases,” Tzvieli said. “It’s bothersome as far as smell but not expected to cause a significant health hazard. It could cause a headache or that irritated feeling for those who are real sensitive.”
In the public health advisory, officials advised people with respiratory issues to stay indoors and keep their windows closed. They also recommended using a HEPA air filter.
Health officials said eye, skin, nose and throat irritation may happen for people in the affected area and that residents should rinse any irritated part of their body.
The advisory went out on a day that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District extended a Spare the Air alert already in effect through Sunday because of poor air conditions.
This is a developing report. Please check back for updates.