Six sickened, one taken to hospital due to unidentified odor at Sherman Oaks Galleria

Saumya Gupta
·1 min read
** ADVANCE FOR USE WEEKEND OF OCT. 5-6 ** Pedestrians stroll in the Sherman Oaks Galleria, in the Sherman Oaks district of the San Fernando Valley, currently a part of the city of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002. In the 1980's, the Sherman Oaks Galleria, then an indoor shopping mall, became the hangout for local youths and the birthplace of what came to be known as "Valley Girls". The continually evolving area attached to the northern end of Los Angeles for more than two centuries will possibly transform once again, when on Nov. 5 voters throughout Los Angeles will cast votes on secession measures involving the Valley and Hollywood. (AP Photo/Jean-Marc Bouju)
The LAFD responded to the Sherman Oaks Galleria on Monday after several people complained of irritation to the eyes and throat after smelling an odor. (Jean-Marc Bouju / Associated Press)

One person was taken to the hospital and five others suffered minor symptoms from an irritant in the air Monday at the Sherman Oaks Galleria.

Firefighters responded to complaints of an odor at the shopping mall around 9:15 a.m. Six people described having watery eyes and a scratchy throat, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department alert. Fire officials did not disclose if the victims were shoppers or mall employees.

One person was transported to a hospital; the other five declined after being assessed by paramedics.

Los Angeles Fire Department hazardous materials specialists tested the building and were not able to identify the source of the odor, according to the alert.

"Initial readings are not showing any significant hazard, but the irritant has yet to be positively identified," the alert said.

Tests for flammable and toxic irritants came back negative. The odor is believed to have been caused by a cleaning product, according to LAFD spokesperson Nicholas Prange.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.