A different view

Mercaptan or What's That Big Stink?

New Yorkers are finally admitting the city stinks. An odor like natural gas is being reported around the island of Manhattan.

Of course, the odor of natural gas isn't the flammable gas at all. It's mercaptan, also known as methyl mercaptan. One of the components is sulphur, which gives it that rotten cabbage smell. It's mixed into natural gas, normally odorless, so you can detect a leak before it becomes a boom.

The odor can also come from such diverse sources as feces, algae, cheese and nuts.

Maybe the warm weather is causing a problem. Maybe it's just time to clean up the streets. I'm just glad I don't have to smell it.

posted by don1one @ 9:33 AM