Odeurs & Nuisances
Measurement of olfactory pollution
Why measure olfactory pollution?
The measurement of olfactory pollution enables industry:
- to identify the predominant sources of odor to treat them more effectively
- to verify emissions compliance compared to current standards
- to communicate with local residents and authorities on the basis of quantitative and standardized results
The electronic nose, at the junction of chemical and sensory measurements
The measurement by electronic nose combines different elements:
- a continuous instrumental measurement in real time which does not depend on the availability of a panel
- a measurement of odor concentration easily interpreted and correlated to sensory measurement
- a measurement of odor coupled with physico-chemical analysis of specific compounds (H2S, NH3) and chemical groups (VOCs, mercaptans)
- a continuous anticipation of the possible discomfort to residents thanks to integrated dispersion calculations
What are the other measurement methods?
- Assessment of residents' discomfort
Eg. surveys of residents, residents'panels, analysis of complaints
- Sensory analysis by a panel
Eg. olfactometric campaigns, on-site measurement of odor intensity, characterization of the olfactive properties of a source or ambient air
- Physico-chemical measurements
Eg. analysis of compounds and chemical groups
These sensory and physico-chemical methods are complementary and address specific needs.
