There is a need for Odour Threshold Values (OTV) for odorants with a certain quality as most of the data around is outdated and they were not made with a standard methodology in mind. That is why the company odournet is launching the first (to our knowledge) website for OTVs obtained by a laboratory accredited to ISO17025 as a testing laboratory for the measurement of odour concentration following EN13725.

   There are many compilations of odour thresholds around. Most of these compilations found on websites like flavournet, Leffingwell or the good scents company, are based mostly on values found in the published scientific literature, such as the EPA reports. Unfortunately most reported odour thresholds were obtained using old methodology which did not take into account significant operational variables. For example, a few months ago McGinley presented the influence of the panel size in the determination of the odour threshold. They also did not take into account the intensive standardization work made later during the nineties to publish the EN 13725. That is why odournet created the new website https://www.odourthreshold.com/

   Zaragoza, Spain, 3^rd May 2018 - The EU-funded D-NOSES project held its kick off meeting on the 25^th & 26^th April 2018 at the University College London campus. The project consortium, coordinated by the Ibercivis Foundation (Spain), is a world-class partnership comprising 15 partners which combines experts in Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), citizen science and co-creation, International Associations, odour scientists, and includes universities and SMEs, local administration and public bodies from 9 countries.

   Across Europe, odour pollution is the second biggest reason for citizens’ environmental complaints, after noise. Frequent exposure to odour is associated with headache, stress and respiratory problems. Lead by the Ibercivis Foundation, experts in citizen science, and coordinated by the odour expert Rosa Arias, “D-NOSES will demonstrate that odour pollution is an indicator of larger environmental issues. It can affect our health and also contributes to climate change in the case of landfills or livestock facilities”. Due to the lack of regulation, situated technical studies are rarely conducted, so that data on odour pollution is either scarce or difficult to access. Without data it is difficult for affected groups to prove the impact on their communities and build a case for change.