""The closest thing I can relate the smell to is - my garbage can is out front right now and is very easily accessible from the sidewalk, so people will just lean over the gate and throw their loose garbage into the can. So the bottom of our trash can is like rainwater, old dog poop bags, melted cups of ice cream, and old coffee cups. I'd say that is the smell of the Gowanus Canal.""
""It smells like a rug that's been left outside rolled up for an entire winter. The smell kind of wrapped you up.""
""A lot of people have had direct experiences of like, 'Oh, when I opened my window, my head hurts,' and that's not a normal thing.""
The Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn is one of New York City's most polluted waterways, declared a Superfund site in 2010. Residents report unpleasant odors reminiscent of garbage and decaying waste. Concerns extend beyond smell, as environmental health researchers speculate that the canal may negatively affect residents' health. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some individuals experience headaches when windows are opened, indicating potential long-term health effects related to the canal's pollution.
Read at The Cool Down
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