The Web-App NOSE is a free application that allows citizens to send their geo-referenced and real-time reports about odour episodes in a confidential and anonymous way to the Regional Environmental Ministry of Sicily. Mr Cordaro and Anna Abita from the Regional Environmental Ministry of Environment of Sicily and Paolo Bonasoni from the Institute of Atmospheric Science and Climate (ISAC) of Italy presented last week the preliminary results of a 2-year study on odour mapping funded by the Sicilian Region and co-financed by the ISAC.
This study commenced at the end of August 2019 in the area of Syracuse and In 4 months, 3200 odour observations have been collected from 2000 registered citizens. 2400 times the citizens have reported the smell of hydrocarbons, 271 times they reported sulfurs and 180 times they smelled solvents. Regarding intensity, 1500 reports recorded a maximum level intensity (5) and 1100 observations registered an intensity of 4. Finally, this app offers the possibility to register a health issue. In this sense, 1500 participants reported difficulty breathing, 1300 burning and irritation in the throat and 1100 headache.
The idea behind is to try to identify the odour impact concerning a community. In a second phase, Nose will automatically trigger ambient air samplers located at strategic points in the areas in question. The sampled odor emissions will be characterized from a chemical and olfactometric point of view to identify their hazard and use the analytical footprint to characterize the emissive source.
After the initial testing in Syracuse area, the authorities want to extend its use for the citizens of Catania, Motta Sant'Anastasia, Misterbianco and for the province of Messina the municipalities of Milazzo, Pace del Mela, Santa Lucia del Mela, San Filippo del Mela , Condrò, Valdina and San Pier Niceto.
Learn more at the press release by the Regional Environmental Ministry of Environment of Sicily here.
More preliminary results and a several reports are available here.
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