After that, employees began to complain of an unpleasant smell, and then some of them complained of discomfort.
It is worth noting that a week after the incident, the old asphalt was removed at the entrance to the building where the Novaya Gazeta editorial office is located. Now, according to the publication, an independent examination has determined the composition of the sprayed substance. Its main components are 4-ethylphenol and 3-methylindole (skatole). At high concentrations, they cause choking, coughing and skin irritation.
In small doses, 4-ethylphenol is not harmful to humans. The unpleasant odor of skatole is noticeable even in small doses. Also, even in small concentrations, both substances are toxic to the aquatic environment, primarily to fish.
It is worth noting that the persistent, pungent chemical odor on March 15 was felt not only by all visitors and editorial staff, but also by employees of the MosTransProekt Research Institute of the Moscow Transport Department, a children's music studio, which are also located in this building. At the same time, the emergency services that worked at the scene later reported that they had not recorded an increased content of any harmful substances in the air.
This is not the first time that Novaya Gazeta has been attacked. In April 2017, the editorial office received a letter with an unknown white powder inside and congratulations on Easter, and in July of the same year, the journalist's house and car were sprayed with caustic gas, similar in smell to the one that is felt in the editorial office today. In October 2018, a severed ram's head with a threatening note appeared on the doorstep of the editorial office. A few days later there was a new present at the entrance - cages with rams in vests with the inscription "Press".