ASHLAND — The odor of natural gas, or mercaptan, should dissipate over time, a Columbia Gas spokesman said Wednesday evening.
Residents and business owners from Ashland, Richland and Lorain counties reported odors of natural gas on Wednesday, leading to a swell of calls from people complaining of the smell.
Some schools in Richland County closed for the day as the utility company investigated the situation.
“The situation is safe, and the source of the odor is known,” the utility company said in a statement. “The odor is occurring due to an overabundance of an additive known as mercaptan being added by an upstream supplier.
“Mercaptan is a harmless substance that makes it easier to detect natural gas. The source of the odor is not due to a gas leak.”
Bill Loomer, a spokesman for the company, declined to identify the “upstream supplier” and encouraged customers to call 1-800-344-4077 “if you believe you are smelling a gas leak.”
He said the odor should “dissipate over time,” but did not provide a specific timeframe.
“We have numerous service techs responding to each odor call. The situation is safe, but it will take some time for the odor to dissipate,” Loomer said.
He said it is safe to use appliances powered by natural gas, such as stoves, furnaces and fireplaces.
Mercaptan, Loomer said, is not harmful “at the levels used to odorize natural gas.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said exposure to the volatile organic compound “may cause immediate irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, and shortness of breath, as well as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tearing of the eyes.
Exposure to methyl mercaptan can also cause nausea and vomiting and dizziness, headache and lack of coordination.”