Malodors–A Basis for Regulations

Abstract

Of the four major categories of objectionable air pollution effects, the sensory offenses are considered to be of dominant importance, and should receive much higher priority in governmental policy than has been accorded to them. This applies with particular force to the malodors. This deficiency may be partially due to the pre-eminent emphasis on the search for health effects and partly to the problems of measurement of malodors which is of prime importance in the framing of odor control ordinances in objective terms. The author shows that malodors can be measured at the source with quite satisfactory precision, contrary to commonly-held opinion. Ambient air quality with respect to malodors likewise can be evaluated by a quite simple technique and with nontechnical personnel. A compatible system of an ambient air quality standard and allowable emission rates from sources is demonstrated, and the essential elements of an odor control regulation are described.