Overview of odour measurement methods: The odour observatory as an informative tool for citizen science based approaches to odour management

Abstract

Odour pollution is a well-known problem related to a number of different industrial activities. It is also one of the main causes of citizens’ complaints to local authorities. Specific programs are needed to manage persistent odour pollution problems within communities in order to avoid possible socio-environmental conflicts. The H2020 project D-NOSES (Distributed Network for Odour Sensing, Empowerment and Sustainability) aims to help citizens co-create local solutions in collaboration with industries, regional & local authorities, and odour experts. The project will develop an innovative bottom-up approach to odour pollution governance by combining citizen science and stakeholder management methods using a quadruple helix model. The first aim of this article is to introduce the D-NOSES project and its methodology. Aside from that, the article presents an overview of the existing odour impact assessment methods currently available to quantify odour pollution. Finally, the different odour measurement methods are compared in terms of their applicability and limitations. This overview will be made available online as a first step towards the development of the International Odour Observatory, a platform to be created within the D-NOSES project to help promote odour pollution management and resolve regulation issues. The platform will become a global resource on odour issues and also include information about odour abatement systems, chemical substances in odour emissions, and odour regulations around the world.