San Diego mystery odor lingers unexplained

[Emily]

I haven't seen any negative health effects reported yet. (***See ETA below. Residents are reporting some irritation and dizziness.)

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/aug/18/samples-or-strange-smelling-air-being-analysed/

Pollution officials testing air samples after mystery stink
Written by
Debbi Baker
11:28 a.m., Aug. 18, 2011
Updated 1:17 p.m.
[snip]
People began reporting the odor around 2 p.m. and described it variously as jet fuel, paint thinner, propane, bus exhaust or other chemicals. Some said it smelled like the pesticide DDT. Others described it as smelling like fabric softener, flea bombs, even dead bodies.

The smell appears to have started along the coast and drifted to the south and east with the wind, said Jon Adams, the air pollution agency’s chief of compliance.

“It’s rare to have so many people detect an odor over such a wide area so quickly,” Adams said.

The article below says there was another odor incident a year ago, but that was limited to areas near the shore and determined to be rotting vegetation.

http://www.760kfmb.com/story/15287018/mysterious-odor-lingers-over-san-diego-county

ETA:
Maybe the statements I've seen from authorities saying there have been no health effects mean that nobody has gone to the ER for treatment, but there are complaints of health symptoms here:

http://www.10news.com/news/28897721/detail.html

"I feel this air bothering my throat while walking," said Claudia from Encinitas.

Andria in North Park added, "It is horrible here ... We are getting headaches and feeling really dizzy."