Company's Printing Job May Cause 'Natural Gas' Odor

Strathmore Company in Geneva has informed the city the business will be printing another propane safety pamphlet, which has generated a “natural gas-like” odor detectable in the community in the past. In May, the Geneva Fire Department responded to several reports of a “natural gas-like” odor on the city’s west side. Through air testing, firefighters determined the smell was emanating from normal exhaust at the commercial printing company and was not posing any danger.

Strathmore, which operates on Gary Lane, will be conducting its latest production run starting in the afternoon of Aug. 28 and from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, Sept. 1. The company is printing materials for a customer that has a small scratch-and-sniff area being applied.

The scent being used for the scratch-and-sniff contains Mercaptan, the same odorant that is added to natural gas to make it noticeable, according to a city news release.

Mercaptan is a harmless, organic substance made of carbon, hydrogen, and sulphur that is detectable to the human nose at levels of less than one part per million. Since natural gas in its pure state does not have a smell, Mercaptan is the ideal additive to colorless, odorless gases so they can be identified well before they reach hazardous levels.

Residents in the vicinity may periodically smell the Mercaptan depending on current wind speed and direction.

However, should people believe an odor is stemming from another source, or if they have knowledge of an actual natural gas leak, please call 911 immediately to report the incident.

Residents with questions regarding the print production smell can call the Geneva Fire Department at 630-232-2530.