The “Gray Line” Between Odor Nuisance and Health Effects
ABSTRACT
Ambient air in the community holds a mixture of chemicals from the everyday activities of it’ citizens and the commercial enterprises that make up modern day society. Exposure to chemicals in the ambient air is a part of life and a part of a community. However, from time to time citizens find the odors of these chemicals objectionable and at some point declare them a nuisance. Additionally, citizens frequently report adverse health effects from these chemicals. An odor nuisance can be a result of a series of odor episodes experienced by a citizen. The frequency of these episodes, the duration of each odor episode, the intensity of the odors, and the character of the odors all contribute to the nuisance experience and the resulting citizen complaint.