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From Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture = Heli Headquarters “Ozuru”, where there was a third offensive odor this summer on August 21
There is no indication that the offensive odor that has been intermittent since June in Kanagawa prefecture will diminish even in October. The turmoil that started on the Miura Peninsula at the southern tip of the prefecture reached the city of Yokohama this month as if it was gradually moving north. Although gasoline components were detected in the air collected in both Yokohama and Yokosuka, the source is still unknown. Experts also lack clincher such as degassing of oil tanks and ships, and the “precursor theory of earthquakes,” and the mystery only deepens. (Haruyasu Tsuchiya, Yohei Maruyama)
◆ Miura, Yokosuka, Zushi, Yokohama … A strange smell moving north
“Smells like burning rubber” “Smell of sinner”. On June 4, these reports were sent to the fire departments of Miura City, Yokosuka City and Zushi City, which are located on the Miura Peninsula. As of this day, when there were more than 200 cases, local fire departments have been notified once a month since then.
In October, the number of reports in the city of Yokohama began to increase. On the 12th, there was a strange smell around Yokohama station and some of the entrance gates were restricted. At the City Fire Department in Hodogaya district, about 2.5 km inland from the station, staff members smelled a strange smell and picked up air. As a result of the analysis, “isopentane” produced when gasoline or the like was vaporized at a concentration of 10 times or more was detected, and “butane” was detected at a concentration of about 3 times.
Atmospheric sampling equipment installed at Yokosuka City Fire Departments to check for offensive odors = Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture
◆ Oil tank leak? Degassing a carrier oil?
“Isopentan is an unusual concentration. It may have been artificially produced.” Estimated by Professor Kohei Urano (Environmental Safety Studies) at Yokohama National University. Since the reports are widespread, Uranus suspects that the cause is the oil tanks scattered along the coast. “Every time you put oil in a tank, the exhaust gas in the tank is expelled. There is a purification device, and normally the gas does not come out, but if there are cracks, it can leak and give off a strange smell.”
There is a theory that it may be due to the ship carrying oil etc. sailing in Tokyo Bay is degassing, but Mr Urano said: “It’s hard to think that degassing is prohibited near the port.” Is.
◆ Is it a precursor to a great earthquake?
Some researchers advocate the “precursor theory of earthquakes” because there is a record that there was a strange odor prior to a major earthquake like the Great Kanto Earthquake on the Miura Peninsula. Manabu Takahashi, a specially appointed professor at Pacific Ritsumeikan’s Pacific Civilization Research Center (disaster management), said: “When rocks break underground, it smells like burning. It cannot be concluded that it is a precursor to a big earthquake, but caution must be exercised. It is. ”
◆ The “blue tide theory” for overgrown plankton
Professor Yoshihiko Yamada of Tokai University, who is familiar with marine problems, advocates the “blue tide theory” that emits hydrogen sulfide in the process of decomposition of neglected plankton. The blue tide usually occurs frequently in Tokyo Bay from spring to summer, but “it may have occurred even in October because the sea water temperature was high this year.”
However, there are differences in how people smell the odor and it is not clear if all reports have the same cause. Professor Yamada says: “You need to check carefully for harmful substances without identifying a cause.”
