Cause of acrid LIC smell still unknown

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the pungent smell that forced employees out of a building in Long Island City twice. Although authorities said the smell was not toxic, it is believed to have come from the Sunnyside Yards.
A building at 33-00 Northern Boulevard had to be evacuated on Tuesday, September 13, due to an overwhelming smell believed to come from excavation work at the nearby Sunnyside Rail Yard, said Eric Koch, spokesperson for Councilmember Eric Gioia, who represents the area.
The smell, which sent 13 people to the hospital and required the on-site treatment of dozens of others for symptoms like nausea, lightheadedness and respiratory problems, reappeared the next day, Koch said.
“For odors to escape for a second day, causing even more people to get sick is simply inexcusable and irresponsible,” said Gioia. “When excavating on this site we have an obligation to take every precaution to ensure the health and safety of the surrounding community.”
Although it made people sick, the smell, described as “heavy gas odor,” was not toxic, according to John Buoso from the Fire Department of New York. “They ran readings and everything came back negative,” Buoso explained, adding that officials are still trying to determine the exact cause of the odor.