Title: Extension of odor impact assessments beyond nuisance evaluations and the dilution-to-threshold principle

Authors: James A. Nicell

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics, McGill University, 817 Sherbrooke Street West Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2K6, Canada

Abstract: Current odor impact assessment methods based on statutory nuisance laws or the dilution-to-threshold principle are unsatisfactory. The Odor Impact Model (OIM) represents a significant improvement on current methods for quantifying odors by incorporating the persistence and offensiveness of an odor into estimates of the impact of odorous emissions on surrounding communities. This allows odors to be judged not only in terms of the quantity of the emission but also, just as importantly, its quality. Dispersion modelling can be used in conjunction with the OIM to estimate the impact of an odor on the surrounding community by providing a measure of the fraction of the population who will be exposed to the odor and their corresponding degree of annoyance.

Keywords: odour impact assessment; nuisance evaluation; dilution-to-threshold principle; odour persistence; odour offensiveness; odorous emissions; dispersion modelling; odour impact; surrounding communities; degree of annoyance; smells.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.1999.053836

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 1999 Vol.1 No.1, pp.45 - 62

Published online: 13 May 2013 *

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