Tacoma Aroma: What Happened To This Unique Scent?

The Tacoma Aroma is the nickname given to the unpleasant, putrid smell that has been associated with Tacoma, Washington, since the 1940s. The odor, which is reminiscent of rotten eggs, has been attributed to a combination of water and air pollution, with Commencement Bay—once ranked as one of the 10 worst toxic waste sites in the US—being a major contributor. The stench was so notorious that it inspired a song and reportedly forced singer Bruce Springsteen to cut short his visit to the city in the 1980s. While the smell has lessened in recent years due to environmental clean-up efforts, it continues to plague residents and visitors alike, with occasional malfunctions at local rendering plants causing a resurgence of the infamous Aroma of Tacoma.

The Tacoma Aroma is a result of around 100 years of industrial development

The Tacoma Aroma, also known as the Aroma of Tacoma, is a foul odour that has been associated with the city of Tacoma, Washington, since the 1940s. The city, which is located about 35 miles southwest of Seattle, has historically been an industrial area, with a port and railroad that facilitated the development of various industrial facilities, including pulp mills, rendering plants, chemical factories, petroleum processors, and aluminium smelters. Over time, the combination of industrial emissions and natural decay in the area created the distinctive and putrid Tacoma Aroma.

The smell is often described as resembling rotten eggs, with a sulfuric, rancid odour. While it is most concentrated around the Tacoma tide flats, which have been heavily industrialised, it can also be noticed by travellers along Interstate 5. The aroma has contributed to Tacoma's negative reputation, with jokes and references to it in popular culture, such as in a 1979 song by Frank Zappa.

The cause of the Tacoma Aroma is multifaceted and challenging to pinpoint precisely. However, it is primarily attributed to around 100 years of industrial development and activity in the area. The various industrial facilities, particularly those involved in rendering and pulp and paper production, released emissions that contributed to the noxious smell. Additionally, the natural decay of organic matter in the sediment of Commencement Bay, around which Tacoma is built, also played a role in creating the unpleasant aroma.

Efforts have been made to improve the air quality and mitigate the Tacoma Aroma. In the 1980s, the cleanup of Commencement Bay was prioritised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and they worked with local businesses and the community to implement initiatives to restore the bay. The Simpson Tacoma Kraft pulp and paper mill, a significant source of air pollution, also took steps in the 1990s to reduce their noxious emissions, including upgrading their mill to reduce sulfur output. Thanks to these efforts, the Tacoma Aroma has lessened in recent years, though traces of the smell still linger.

Commencement Bay, once ranked one of the worst toxic waste sites in the US, is a contributing factor

Commencement Bay, located in Tacoma, Washington, has a history of industrialization that has significantly contributed to environmental pollution and earned Tacoma an infamous reputation for its unpleasant odour, known as the "Tacoma Aroma". The bay, once ranked as one of the worst toxic waste sites in the US, has been a site of intensive industrial activity since the early 1900s.

The industrialization of Commencement Bay led to significant alterations to the natural landscape. Vast areas of tideflats were filled in to create industrial land, and the meandering streams and rivers flowing into the bay were channelized. Beginning in the 1920s, these channelized waterways became receptacles for hazardous substances released by various industries, including shipbuilding, oil refining, and chemical manufacturing plants. Principal contaminants included PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), dioxins, and heavy metals, which persist in the environment, accumulate in living organisms, and pose significant health risks to humans and wildlife.

The contamination in Commencement Bay has had detrimental effects on fish and wildlife, including bottom-dwelling organisms, birds, and salmon. Consumption advisories have been issued for many fish species in the area due to elevated levels of pollutants such as PCBs, mercury, and other contaminants. In recognition of the severity of the pollution, Commencement Bay was declared a national Superfund site in the early 1980s, signalling its status as one of the most polluted bodies of water in the country.

The distinctive Tacoma Aroma is a result of the combination of natural decay, hydrogen sulfide, vapours from animal rendering plants, and industrial fumes. The geographical layout of the region concentrates these odours in the air above the tide flats, making it especially noticeable to travellers along Interstate 5. The stench has been described as a sulfuric, rotten egg-like smell, earning Tacoma a negative reputation, particularly among other cities in the Puget Sound region.

Efforts to address the environmental and odour issues in Commencement Bay have been ongoing. Since 1990, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has led significant cleanup initiatives, working with businesses and the local community. These efforts have yielded notable improvements, and by the 1990s, the Simpson Tacoma Kraft pulp and paper mill, a major source of air pollution, implemented measures to reduce its noxious emissions. While the odour has lessened, it has not disappeared entirely, and ongoing maintenance and prevention measures are necessary to ensure the health and safety of the local community and wildlife.

Water and air pollution combine to create the stench

The "Aroma of Tacoma" or "Tacoma Aroma" is a putrid, unpleasant odor associated with the city of Tacoma, Washington. The smell is akin to rotten eggs, feces, or garbage, and has been described as "sickeningly stinky". The city has been enveloped in this odor for decades, with the reputation dating back to the 1940s.

The cause of the Tacoma Aroma is a combination of water and air pollution. The water pollution comes from Commencement Bay, which was once ranked as one of the ten worst toxic waste sites in the United States. The air pollution comes from industrial smokestacks and animal rendering plants. When the tide is out, the water pollution in Commencement Bay becomes more concentrated and emits a stronger smell. This combines with the air pollution to create the distinct and powerful stench of the Tacoma Aroma.

The Darling International facility, a rendering plant on the Tacoma Tideflats, has been identified as a significant contributor to the Tacoma Aroma. In 2019, a broken gasket and a small leak in the plant's odor abatement system caused an equipment failure, resulting in an intense odor that plagued the city for several days. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency received dozens of complaints, and inspectors were dispatched to investigate the source of the smell.

The Tacoma Aroma has been the subject of jokes and has even been referenced in popular culture, such as in a 1979 Frank Zappa song. While the smell has lessened in recent years due to more environmentally friendly practices and initiatives to clean up Commencement Bay, it has not completely dissipated. The odor can still be noticeable, particularly around the Tacoma tide flats, and continues to be a concern for residents and visitors to the city.

The smell is a mix of natural decay, hydrogen sulfide, vapours of animal rendering, and industrial fumes

The "Aroma of Tacoma" or "Tacoma Aroma" is a putrid, unpleasant odour that has been associated with Tacoma, Washington, since the 1940s. The smell is a combination of natural decay, hydrogen sulfide, vapours of animal rendering, and industrial fumes.

The natural decay comes from the sediment of Commencement Bay, the primary bay around which Tacoma is built. The geographical layout of the region causes these natural smells to concentrate in the air above the bay.

Hydrogen sulfide is a compound that smells like rotten eggs. In Tacoma, this compound was emitted by the Simpson Tacoma Kraft pulp and paper mill, one of the biggest air pollution offenders in the city.

The vapours of animal rendering come from the rendering plants located in Tacoma. Rendering plants process the byproducts of slaughtered livestock to create "edible and inedible bio-nutrients for use in the production of pharmaceuticals, food, pet food, feed fuel, bioenergy, and organic fertilizer." The Darling International facility, now owned by the Darling Ingredients Company, is one such rendering plant in Tacoma that has been identified as a source of the city's odour.

Finally, the industrial fumes come from the various pulp mills, chemical factories, petroleum processors, and aluminium smelters that have been operating in Tacoma for decades. The combination of these factors creates the infamous Tacoma Aroma.

The stink has been described as similar to rotten eggs, dog food, and garbage

The "Aroma of Tacoma" is a putrid, unpleasant smell that has been associated with the city of Tacoma, Washington, for decades. The stench has been described as similar to rotten eggs, with a sulfuric tang, but also as reminiscent of dog food and garbage.

The odor is particularly noticeable around the Tacoma tide flats, an area with a history of industrial activity. While the smell is not pervasive throughout the city, it can be quite concentrated in certain areas, especially when the tide is out. The stink has been the subject of many complaints from locals and has even been known to make visitors feel unwell.

In the 1980s, the cleanup of Commencement Bay—once ranked as one of the worst toxic waste sites in the US—was placed on the Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List. This effort, along with more environmentally friendly manufacturing and refining processes, has helped to reduce the intensity of the odor over time.

However, the stench has persisted to some degree. In April 2019, for example, a malfunction at a rendering plant on the Tacoma Tideflats caused an especially noxious bout of the aroma. The facility in question, owned by Darling Ingredients Company, takes in byproducts from slaughtered livestock for use in various industrial processes. A small leak in the plant's odor abatement system was identified as the source of the problem, and the plant was temporarily shut down while repairs were made.

The "Aroma of Tacoma" has been the subject of much derision and has even inspired a song reference by Frank Zappa in "Jewish Princess." Despite improvements in air quality, the smell remains a notorious feature of the city, with locals and visitors alike hoping for a permanent solution to the malodorous problem.

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