Why measure odors?

If we're not careful, odor emissions into the environment can lead to conflict between local residents and the organization responsible for the odor emissions.

Initially, there is an emitting site, such as a factory or waste treatment center, whose activity produces potentially odorous chemical molecules. Depending on meteorological conditions, these molecules, sometimes emitted in small quantities into the atmosphere, are transported to the vicinity of the site, either through dispersion and thus dilution in the atmosphere, or through concentration.

If these molecules, moving with atmospheric currents, reach inhabited areas in sufficient concentrations (above the olfactory threshold), local residents perceive an odor that may be more or less well accepted. In fact, depending on the frequency with which this odor is perceived, its strength,...