Perceptions of Rural Air Quality: What Will the Neighbors Think?

Abstract

Individuals exposed to odors from livestock facilities do not report annoyance uniformly. The reaction to a detectable odor depends on perceptions of the odor and its source which are mediated by odor attributes and personal factors. Correlations among these factors were tested in a rural context using date from a pilot study of seventeen households neighboring two swine operations in Michigan. Annoyance was measured as the impact of the neighboring facility on enjoyment of property. Characterization of odor as a problem was positively correlated with offensiveness, frequency and duration of exposure. Annoyance was negatively correlated with term of residence, current employment on a farm, and acquaintance with the facility owner. Annoyance was positively correlated with suburban characterization of the residence, unacceptability of the facility’s appearance and perception of odor as a problem. Strategies to minimize exposure augmented by increasing familiarity with the operation and owner can reduce annoyance.