Synolakis on the smell in Attica: the characteristic “rotten egg” odor and deeper waters with hydrogen sulfide and ammonia

According to him, the diagnostic odor that disturbed a ample portion of Attica yesterday, particularly the confederate suburbs, whitethorn beryllium linked to the peculiar characteristics of the Saronic Gulf combined with meteorological conditions, arsenic good arsenic the adjacent Psyttaleia sewage attraction plant.

The world emphasizes that the Saronic Gulf has been nether semipermanent biology unit from nutrient and integrated loads, which nether definite conditions tin pb to the merchandise of hydrogen sulfide and different gases.

He stresses that “what is instantly required is systematic measurements of the chemic creation of the waters, monitoring and nationalist transparency: measurements of oxygen, nutrients, hydrogen sulfide and oversea currents, arsenic good arsenic wide connection from the liable authorities.”

He adds that residents of the Saronic Gulf merit technological documentation and reassurance that the biology prime of the country is being decently monitored.

Specifically, helium explains:

In caller days, a beardown unpleasant odor has been observed successful the oversea country betwixt Salamis, Psyttaleia, and the outlet toward the Saronic Gulf. While akin phenomena are not antithetic successful enclosed oregon semi-enclosed bays during lukewarm periods, the strength and grade of the lawsuit warrant contiguous technological probe and wide nationalist communication.

It is important not to gully premature conclusions, arsenic determination are respective imaginable explanations. One is linked to earthy oceanographic processes: during outpouring and summer, parts of the Saronic Gulf acquisition beardown thermal stratification, wherever warmer aboveground waters beryllium supra deeper, colder, and often oxygen-poor waters. Under definite upwind and circulation conditions, deeper waters containing hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and integrated decomposition byproducts tin emergence to the aboveground done upwelling oregon vertical mixing. Such events are often associated with a diagnostic “rotten egg” smell.

At the aforesaid time, the proximity to Psyttaleia — 1 of the largest wastewater attraction plants successful the Mediterranean — raises understandable questions. Even precocious attraction systems tin occasionally acquisition impermanent malfunctions, overload, sludge-management issues, oregon odor-control strategy failures. Because the interior Saronic Gulf has comparatively anemic h2o renewal and section recirculation patterns, adjacent abbreviated disruptions tin nutrient wide noticeable odors.

A 3rd anticipation relates to eutrophication and oxygen depletion successful deeper layers and seabed sediments. Long-term biology accent successful the Saronic Gulf has made immoderate areas susceptible to low-oxygen (anoxic) conditions during warmer months, starring to the merchandise of hydrogen sulfide and different gases.

Finally, imaginable contributions from shipping oregon concern enactment successful the broader Piraeus–Perama–Elefsina country cannot beryllium excluded.