District Says Odor at MVMS Related to Nearby Nursery

District officials say a smell detected on or near the Menifee Valley Middle School campus on Garbani Road is coming from a nursery across the street. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

Story updated with comment from AQMD source:

An air quality officer visited Menifee Valley Middle School Wednesday and told school district administrators that MVMS is not the source of a strong odor reportedly associated with stinging eyes, sore throats and headaches, officials said today.

A statement emailed to Menifee 24/7 by a Menifee Union School District spokesperson said the official determined that the odor periodically smelled by students, parents and staff was coming from piles of wood chips being stored at a nursery across the street.

According to the district statement, Nick Volpone of the South Coast Air Quality Management District walked the campus today and found no indications of the odor there. He then met with the owner of the nursery on the other side of Garbani Road, apparently the source of the smell.

"After a thorough inspection of campus, Mr. Volpone concluded that the smell is not evident on campus at this time, nor is there any source that might create such a smell on campus," the statement read. "He stated that he met with the owners of the adjacent nursery (at left) to discuss the smell. Mr. Volpone suggested that the smell was not toxic. Mr. Volpone is working with the nursery to disperse wood piles to mitigate the source of the smell. Menifee Valley Middle School is open and functioning as usual."

A reporter walking the campus Wednesday afternoon did not notice any smell until he walked across the street toward the nursery. Lily Plascencia, owner of Regal Plant Growers, told Menifee 24/7 that an AQMD inspector did visit her business Wednesday and suggested that wood chips on the site were the source of the odor. She said that at his suggestion, workers are spreading out the piles of wood mulch, which she believes emanated the odor after being wet by the recent rains, and are mixing them with top soil.

"This isn't any different smell than we've had from mulch here in 20 years," Plascencia said. "This time we had more wood chips cut and they got wet from the rain. When they are spread out and allowed to dry, the smell should go away."

Sam Atwood, media relations manner for AQMD, said in an email Thursday that the AQMD has received 10 complaints of foul odors at or around Menifee Valley Middle School. He said the AQMD deals primarily with vehicle emissions and that it is unlikely a nursery would produce toxic emissions.

"Strong odors can certainly be irritating and can cause short-term health effects such as headaches, nausea, stinging eyes, etc," Atwood said. "Whenever there is an immediate threat to public health from smoke, toxic fumes, etc., it is the responsibility of the incident command (typically the fire department) to advise the affected residents if they need to shelter in place or evacuate. SCAQMD does advise the public on potential short-term and long-term health effects from toxic air pollution.

"The predominant sources of cancer risk from air pollution are vehicle emissions (especially diesel emissions). Other toxic air contaminants including benzene and hexavalent chromium, which can be produced from vehicles and industrial sources. A plant nursery typically would not be considered a likely source of air toxic contaminants."

At least one parent remains concerned. Candace Mose said it is her understanding that there can be no proof the source isn't toxic without testing. It is unclear whether that will be done.

"This has been going on since the start of the school year and it's getting worse," said Mose. "I took my kids out of school today, it was so bad. There was a toxic smell and it feels like your throat is constricting. Students have complained of their eyes burning, throats sore and headaches. The school didn't notify the parents about any of this."

On the MVMS campus, it was business as usual. Parents waited in cars outside, waiting to pick up their students. School administrators on site said they could not comment and referred the media to the school district statement.

The owner of Regal Plant Growers on Garbani Road said the smell is no different than anything they've ever had before.