Two months after complaints from residents in Nice: the mystery of the rotten egg smell is finally solved

The bad odors would be caused by a factory that manufactures asphalt. MAXPPP – Pierre ROBERT – Illustration

After two months of enduring this "rotten egg" in eastern Nice, an area has been identified, the prefect leaves 10 days to comply.

The people of Nice complain of a bad smell in the city. All of Nice East smelled of a gas similar to rotten eggs for almost two months.

This Monday, March 25, 2024, the mayor of the city made a request to the prefect, to make "cease immediately", quote Nice Matin, these nuisances, accusing a factory located in the industrial zone of l’Oli.

Results this Tuesday

In-depth analyzes enabled the prefect of Nice to ensure that it was indeed SECA, the Côte d' Azure. This company manufactures bitumen, and "the days of complaint coincide with the production of asphalt", declares France Bleu Azur.

The prefect asked the company to find solutions within 10 days to "comply with regulatory requirements in terms of odor reduction" .

A health risk

More than half of complainants report that this odor caused symptoms. The nuisance caused headaches, irritation to the eyes and nose, and even difficulty breathing.

The Metropolis sent a letter which explained that this odor could cause "significant health consequences". Only the Terre Bleue association requested a health study.