Top Stories

Foul smell noticed throughout Pittsburgh caused by weather inversion, health department says

PITTSBURGH — A foul odor was reported by people in neighborhoods in and around the city of Pittsburgh on Thursday morning.

People described the odor as a chemical smell or like burning rubber, and some of them got headaches, sore throats or nausea because of it.

“It was acidic. It was putridity. It was sour. I just had this horrific … it was horrible,” Cheryl McDermott, of Stowe Township, said.

According to the Allegheny County Health Department, the odor was first reported around 4:30 a.m. and was immediately investigated by the county’s Emergency Management Agency. It appears to be the result of weather inversion, and the health department said it is continuing to monitor air quality in the area.

The odor was initially said to be coming from Neville Island, Allegheny County officials said. Because of the smell, production on Neville Island was ceased.