Central Illinois residents experience persistent unpleasant odor attributed to dry soil's petrichor and deficit precipitation.

Residents in Central Illinois have been grappling with a persistent, unpleasant odor since September, described as rancid and barf-like. Initially linked to local water treatment or agricultural sources, these theories were dismissed. State climatologist Trent Ford attributes the smell to petrichor, a natural scent released from dry soil. The region's two-inch precipitation deficit this autumn has contributed to the odor's persistence, impacting towns like Bloomington and Champaign.

October 25, 2024
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