Near the Ukrainian regional center of Sumy, a dangerous substance, an odorant, was released, which is used as an admixture in gas to give it an odor.
Deputy Mayor of Sumy for Housing and Communal Services Alexander Zhurba reported this on his blog, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
According to the official, the leak occurred near the village of Annovka, but it is not dangerous.
“On the night of July 19-20, Sumy residents complained of an unpleasant smell in the city. According to preliminary information, near the village of Annovka there was a release of an odorant - a substance added to natural gas, which is a toxic substance of hazard class 2 with a characteristic odor. Low concentrations (about 4 ppm) cause skin and eye irritation, headache, nausea, and slow breathing.
Close windows if possible; humidify the indoor air. If your health worsens, seek help from a doctor,” Zhurba wrote.
Interestingly, odorants can be used as chemical weapons. For example, during the Crimean War of 1853-1856, British troops tried to use so-called “stink bombs” with odorant.