Residents of Boyle Heights are falling ill, complaining of headaches, nausea, and other symptoms, which they suspect are caused by the smoke from a recent fire and the foul odors emanating from a Lineage warehouse in their neighborhood.

Health Concerns

Jesus Samaniego, a neighbor who lives three blocks away from the warehouse, has been experiencing severe symptoms, including headaches, irritation, and a bad cough, which worsened in recent days. He was prescribed medications, including Prednisone and anti-inflammatory drugs, after a visit to the emergency room.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and other agencies are continuously monitoring conditions in the community. However, Dr. Barbara Ferrer of the health department stated that none of the air monitoring results rise to the level of needing to evacuate.

Warehouse Conditions

Lineage is being fined up to $2,000 per day by the public health department for unsanitary and nuisance conditions. The company claims it is working around the clock on odor control, pest control, and the removal of food waste, with 60% of the waste already removed.

Samaniego is calling for attention to remain on his community, seeking temporary housing or input on what happens next at the facility. He described the situation as dire, with neighbors unable to live their lives normally due to the foul odors and health concerns.

Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.