Appleton International Airport (Photo: Fox 11 Online)
VILLAGE OF GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Planes aren’t the only thing taking over the air in Greenville.
“I actually had to put a scarf around my nose and my mouth because it smelled so bad. It made me sick to my stomach,” said Greenville resident Carolyn Boyd.
A powerful smell near Appleton International Airport (ATW) has caught the attention of residents.
“I don’t have anything to compare it to. It’s worse than the landfill,” said Boyd.
“Very, very strong onion smell,” said Gerardo Rojas, who also lives in Greenville.
“It smells anything sweet like a syrup and goes all the way to onions,” said Jesse Funk, the airport’s Air Services & Business Development Manager.
ATW says it’s aware of the odor, which is coming from a chemical component called Propylene Glycol — the main ingredient used to de-ice airplanes.
“It removes snow and ice from wings,” Funk explained.
That chemical ends up in a retention pond at the airport near County Highway CB, and can give off an odor as it degrades.
Funk said certain weather conditions, like a lack of moisture, can make the odor more intense.
“We’ve had a pretty dry summer. We’ve also had a warm winter so far,” said Funk.
“I’d have to get in my car, let it warm up, let it push all the air, the smell, out of my car, because I can smell it in my car some days,” said Rojas.
Airport officials tells FOX 11 the chemical is not a danger to the public. “It’s in things like medicines and cosmetics and food products,” said Funk.
However, people are concerned. “I would like to believe them, that it’s not harmful, but it was really awful,” added Boyd.
ATW says it’s looking into possible long-term solutions with an environment consultant, but was not able to share any specific remedies at this time.
“There’s a whole range of solutions, and we just have scratched the surface of what those solutions would be,” said Funk.
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