Hammond officials want to test a petroleum odor that has caused throats to burn and eyes to water in Hammond and East Chicago over the past week.
Hammond Environmental Department Director Ron Novak tells The Munster Times that Hammond is offering its summa canisters that are used for air testing to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management in an effort to pinpoint the odor. Hammond hopes to trap samples of the odor in the canisters and send them to the department in Indianapolis.
City officials are concerned about public health because people have reported strong physical reactions such as burning lungs and chest pains.
The strong stench first surfaced last week in East Chicago and on Hammond's east side and returned Tuesday.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
