The Changsha division of Chinese carmaker BYD has been in the public spotlight during recent days following allegations of damaging pollution, domestic media outlet China Philanthropist reported Saturday.

Beginning in April, some citizens and their children have been found to be unwell in several residential quarters near the factory of BYD in Changsha, the largest city in central China’s Hunan province. The main symptoms are frequent nosebleeds, dizziness, nausea and chronic coughing. A resident said, “Since April this year, a strong pungent smell has filled the whole community, especially at night, so that I could not open the window.” They claimed the source of this pungent smell was the BYD Changsha facility.

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Officials in Changsha [...] sent a team to BYD’s factory to investigate gas emissions after receiving complaints from neighbors.

BYD said [...] that its emissions comply with regulations, adding that it has taken steps to reduce the odor caused by the plant[.]

BYD also said that it has filed police reports alleging the complaints about nosebleeds are groundless and malicious.