Ministry: Health of Bratislava Residents Not at Risk Due to Strange Smell

Bratislava, February 21 (TASR) - The health of Bratislava residents is not at risk as a result of a suspicious smell reported in several boroughs of the Slovak capital on Friday, Interior Ministry's spokesman Matej Neumann has told TASR, adding that the odour is likely being caused by tetrahydrothiophene (THT), a harmless substance used to odourise natural gas. "THT can be sensed at very low concentrations and is therefore used in very small amounts," said Neumann. However, if people suspect that a harmful substance is leaking, they should contact the emergency line, he added. In addition to firefighters, employees of the crisis management department of the Bratislava District Office and the civil protection chemical control laboratory are also in the streets, said Neumann. He noted that the smell in the Slovak capital has nothing to do with the event that occurred on Wednesday (February 19) in the premises of the former Istrochem chemical plant in Bratislava's borough of Nove Mesto. Neumann said that they are exchanging information with the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU) regarding the odour and that its measurements didn't confirm the presence of harmful substances, either. A smell of unknown origin has been felt in Bratislava for several days. Gas utility SPP - Distribution ruled out the possibility of a natural gas leak. Some boroughs of the capital city have advised their residents not to open the windows. ko/mcs