"Residents of a rural town east of New Orleans say they are being sickened by a nearby gas and petrochemical facility, and are reaching their third week of pleading with state officials to do something about it.

A noxious smell began blanketing the St. Rose area area 12 days ago, residents said. The smell has reportedly caused several dozen people to feel ill with breathing problems, eye irritation, vomiting and diarrhea, according to environmental group Louisiana Bucket Brigade.

Several St. Rose residents traveled on Thursday to the state capital, Baton Rouge, to voice their frustration over an alleged lack of state action on the issue, calling on Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican, to do more to protect people in the area."

Peter Moskowitz reports for Aljazeera America June 19, 2014. [2]