STATEN ISLAND — Deborah Phelps-Seda wiped away tears Thursday as she described the foul odor invading her Bulls Head apartment since early December. The smell, like rotten eggs mixed with spoiled broccoli, has forced her family out repeatedly, including stays in hotels and with relatives.

“I just want this nightmare to be over,” Phelps-Seda said. Her son suffers from asthma, heightening her fears over air quality. “How do I protect my children?” she asked, voice breaking. The odor hits hardest at night, turning bedrooms unbearable and showers into sewer-like ordeals.

Neighbor Amity Nigro echoed the desperation. Her family has evacuated multiple times too. “Even in the shower, it was like I was bathing in a sewer,” Nigro said. Firefighters tested Phelps-Seda’s home and ruled out internal sources. Residents now demand city action to trace the stench’s origin.

The New York City Department of Sanitation stated it does not believe any of its facilities caused the problem. Operations there would not produce such a smell, officials said.

The Department of Environmental Protection reported crews inspected sewers at Merrill and Graham Avenues. They found infrastructure operating normally and installed filtration devices in nearby manholes to cut odors. DEP continues monitoring through wastewater and air sampling, with the probe ongoing.

Councilman David Carr said National Grid eliminated a gas leak as the culprit. He urged the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to assist DEP, even if just to assess public health risks. “Maybe they can give an assessment of the actual impacts,” Carr said.

Complaints surged in recent weeks. Phelps-Seda said the smell worsens on windy days, drifting across the neighborhood. Nigro noted it permeates clothes and lingers indoors despite open windows and fans. Both women rallied neighbors for a Thursday meeting with officials, seeking concrete timelines for relief.

DEP dispatched additional teams this week after resident calls spiked. Air quality tests so far show no immediate dangers, but long-term exposure worries doctors consulted by locals. Phelps-Seda’s asthma specialist advised temporary relocation until resolved.

Bulls Head sits amid industrial zones and highways, complicating the hunt. Past odor issues there traced to landfills or factories, though none match this profile. Carr plans a joint agency briefing next week. Residents like Phelps-Seda vow to persist. “We’re not leaving until someone fixes this,” she said.

The saga highlights tensions in New York’s outer boroughs, where infrastructure strains meet dense housing. Similar complaints hit other Staten Island spots last year, resolved only after persistent pressure. DEP promised updates as sampling yields clues.