Breaking: Weird Smell in Gowanus

photo credit: wirednewyork.comWe just received a tip in the FiPS inbox that there is some kind of awful smell permeating the air in and around Gowanus: 

"There is some kind of awful, recurring smell of burning hair / toast in the area around 2-4th ave and 9th-15th st. Smells toxic and gets inside buildings. What the fuck is going on? It's been happening on and off for the last 2-3 years and may have something to do with work on F line or an industrial plant/warehouse? That's my guess. It's really awful today. Almost like the snow is making it worse."

Nearly simultaneously, we saw this pop up on the Brooklynian Park Slope Forum:

I have lived in the neighborhood about 8 years, and every so often there is this disgusting smell that wafts up from the gowanus area. My guess is one of the industrial plants or work on the F train in that area. Recently it has been much worse. smells like burnt toast / burning hair. IT's really f***ing strong today, almost like the snow is making it worse. IT has like a 10 block radius minimum. I'm wondering if it isn't pretty toxic, it smells horrible. other people must have noticed this

If you live or work in that area, do you smell it? Any ideas what could be causing it?