ST. LOUIS, Mo.—State investigators say they’re working to track down information about the latest complaints of odors plaguing neighborhoods in southeastern portions of the city of St. Louis into downtown.

Former St. Louis Alderwoman Annie Rice took to social media Tuesday morning, saying she smelled a chemical odor in the area of Chouteau and 18th. Others chimed in, indicating similar smells akin to burning rubber in areas ranging from downtown to Tower Grove, Lafayette Square and other neighborhoods focused on the southeast part of the city.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources confirmed Tuesday that it had taken a handful of complaints since Monday, and comes more than a year after Rep. Cori Bush asked the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the issue. 

In April 2023, Bush, D-St. Louis, asked for an EPA investigation after she said community members had described odors as “acrid, burning iPhones… burning herbicides and metallic,” and noticeable for years

In response, the EPA said it had received other complaints and had already conducted air sampling in five city neighborhoods, including Mt. Pleasant, Gravois Park, Marine Villa, Lafayette Square and Soulard.

The EPA said last fall it had identified potential sources of the odor but did not plan to identify them by name.

An EPA website dedicated to the issue says the agency identified 15 facilities that would receive follow up compliance inspections but that by itself did not mean the facility was violating​​ “a permit, operating standard, National Ambient Air Quality Standard, or relate to a risk-based health standard.”

An EPA spokesperson said Tuesday the agency anticipates having more information to share “within the next few days” but did not elaborate. The dedicated website to the St. Louis issue says the EPA’s enforcement and compliance activities are ongoing.