Gas smell across the South Coast poses no danger to public health

The Health Protection Agency has advised that the smell drifting over Southern England today poses no risk to public health. The odour, which is similar to rotten eggs, has been noticed by people mainly in Kent, East and West Sussex and some parts of Surrey.

It is caused by a particularly smelly chemical that is added to odourless natural gas to give that its characteristic smell.

The chemical leaked from a factory in Rouen, France yesterday and has blown across the Channel overnight. It is not toxic and has also been diluted before entering the air over England, so people should be reassured it will cause no harm. It is an unpleasant odour which may cause some people to feel slightly nauseous but it will dispel naturally.

Gas companies have been inundated with phone calls since the early hours with reports coming from Brighton to as far east as Bexhill/Hastings.