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Article
Summary and Overview of the Odour Regulations Worldwide
Atmosphere
  • Anna Bokowa, EOC Environmental Odour Consulting Corp.
  • Carlos Diaz, Ambiente et Odora S.L.
  • Jacek A. Koziel, Iowa State University
  • Michael McGinley, St. Croix Sensory Inc.
  • Jennifer Barclay, Atmospheric Science Global Ltd.
  • Günther Schauberger, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
  • Jean-Michel Guillot, IMT Mines Alès
  • Robert Sneath, Silsoe Odours Ltd.
  • Laura Capelli, Politecnico di Milano
  • Vania Zorich, The Synergy Group
  • Cyntia Izquierdo, Ambiente et Odora S.L.
  • Ilse Bilsen, Flemish Institute for Technological Research
  • Anne-Claude Romain, University of Liege
  • Maria del Carmen Cabeza, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development
  • Dezhao Liu, Zhejiang University
  • Ralf Both, North Rhine—Westphalia Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV)
  • Hugo Van Belois, Van Belois Environmental Services
  • Takaya Higuchi, Yamaguchi University
  • Landon Wahe, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
2-3-2021
DOI
10.3390/atmos12020206
Abstract

When it comes to air pollution complaints, odours are often the most significant contributor. Sources of odour emissions range from natural to anthropogenic. Mitigation of odour can be challenging, multifaceted, site-specific, and is often confounded by its complexity—defined by existing (or non-existing) environmental laws, public ordinances, and socio-economic considerations. The objective of this paper is to review and summarise odour legislation in selected European countries (France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium), North America (the USA and Canada), and South America (Chile and Colombia), as well as Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) and Asia (Japan, China). Many countries have incorporated odour controls into their legislation. However, odour-related assessment criteria tend to be highly variable between countries, individual states, provinces, and even counties and towns. Legislation ranges from (1) no specific mention in environmental legislation that regulates pollutants which are known to have an odour impact to (2) extensive details about odour source testing, odour dispersion modelling, ambient odour monitoring, (3) setback distances, (4) process operations, and (5) odour control technologies and procedures. Agricultural operations are one specific source of odour emissions in rural and suburban areas and a model example of such complexities. Management of agricultural odour emissions is important because of the dense consolidation of animal feeding operations and the advance of housing development into rural areas. Overall, there is a need for continued survey, review, development, and adjustment of odour legislation that considers sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic realities, all of which are amenable to a just, site-specific, and sector-specific application.

Comments

This article is published as Anna Bokowa, Carlos Diaz, Jacek A. Koziel, Michael McGinley, Jennifer Barclay, Günther Schauberger, Jean-Michel Guillot, Robert Sneath, Laura Capelli, Vania Zorich, Cyntia Izquierdo, Ilse Bilsen, Anne-Claude Romain, Maria del Carmen Cabeza, Dezhao Liu, Ralf Both, Hugo Van Belois, Takaya Higuchi, and Landon Wahe. "Summary and Overview of the Odour Regulations Worldwide." Atmosphere 12, no. 2 (2021): 206. DOI: 10.3390/atmos12020206. Posted with permission.

Access
Open
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
The Author(s)
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Anna Bokowa, Carlos Diaz, Jacek A. Koziel, Michael McGinley, et al.. "Summary and Overview of the Odour Regulations Worldwide" Atmosphere Vol. 12 Iss. 2 (2021) p. 206
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jacek_koziel/395/