Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

California

Lionel Mandrake

(4,168 posts)

8. The LA Times article mentions the source of the problem:

Reply to Zorro (Original post)

Tue Jun 10, 2025, 03:17 PM

Jun 10

Hydrogen sulfide is released as a byproduct of decaying algae and other organic material in the lake, where accumulating fertilizers and other nutrients from agricultural runoff and wastewater feed the growth of algae.

Maybe the farmers can fix the problem, or maybe not.

H2S is insidious. After people are exposed to it for a long time, they can no longer smell it They think the air is clean, but the H2S is continuing to poison them.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

CaliforniaPeggy

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Salton Sea is emitting foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide gas, triggering health concerns [View all] Zorro Jun 10 OP

I once had a job which entailed using hydrogen sulfide as a calibration gas EYESORE 9001 Jun 10 #1

100ppm H2S is the threshold for immediate danger. VMA131Marine Jun 10 #3

Sorry, I mistyped. Make that 40 ppm. EYESORE 9001 Jun 10 #4

Hydrogen Sulfide is also highly toxic to animals VMA131Marine Jun 10 #2

You think folks should move away? Of course its their business, live there and suffer. Srkdqltr Jun 10 #5

There's a lot of farming close by. Farmers were not happy some of "their" irrigation water is now going to reclaiming LauraInLA Jun 10 #7

They recently started a project to add water to reclaim some of the dry lake bed. LauraInLA Jun 10 #6

The LA Times article mentions the source of the problem: Lionel Mandrake Jun 10 #8