Application of German Solutions in Odour Annoyance Evaluation in Poland

Poland has not managed to create regulations on the odour nuisance assessment in spite of studies related to this issue. In many countries around the world e.g. in Germany, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, there are standards relating to odours. For several years, operates the European standard EN 13725 for the determination of odour concentration by dynamic olfactometry, and its Polish version PN-EN 13725. However, these standards relate to odour emission. So far, there are no similar standards for odour in ambient air (odour imission) and air olfactory quality assessment on a European scale. The legal basis for air quality in Germany is the Act on Protection of Atmospheric Air (German BImSchG: Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz). According to it ( 3 (1)) deterioration of the environment due to pollution, which, because of the nature, size and duration, can cause harm, serious injury or annoyance to the public. Only under this Act a odour nuisance as environment pollution may be viewed. Each plant obtaining licenses for the operation or control of already existing plants is obliged to assess the extent to which the possible nuisance can be considered as serious. So guidelines for "Odour in the air" were developed. In these guidelines, the methods of dealing in relation to immission odour measurement methods and requirements for air olfactory quality are presented: inter alia, the limits of recognized odours in the areas around the industrial plants. The limit values were obtained basing on carried out measurements, comparative tests of the impact and odour frequency and level assessed on the basis of surveys in accordance with VDI 3883. According to GOAA (Guideline on Odour in Ambient Air), the smell can be characterized by its type, the level of feelings - above the threshold of recognition, and through the so-called 'odour hour'. Lack of regulation and standardized terminology relating inter alia to odour measurements in the field is definitely a basic limitation when trying to apply methods of odour assessing in Poland. Therefore, there is a need to clarify the concepts of 'odour imission' (odour in ambient air) and 'survey'. The first of them allows an assessment of frequency of the odour occurrence, is also called 'field research / inspections / measurements'. However, as a 'survey' (questionnaires) is defined odor nuissance assessment. The term 'field research' refers to the total assessment of odour with both the imission measurements and questionnaires. Currently, the only way to carry out research in and around a potential odour emission source is the good will of the representatives of the plant. However, the vast majority of traders fear field measurements, since the results of measurements would suggest a potential need for changes and improvements in technology of the industrial plant, which undoubtedly would impose a large financial outlay. Further restrictions apply to conduct research themselves. On one hand, the measurements do not require any complicated or expensive equipment. On the other, are indispensable to the people creating the panel, who should be trained and then perform measurements, which require financial resources. Another problem of a formal nature, is a law on the protection of personal data. Impossible or difficult access to the population database of potential respondents from the area could lead to a significant reduction in the quality of research results and their lack of credibility. However, taking into account the very complex nature of the problem of odour nuisance, and particularly the influence of 'no olfactory' factors, odour evaluation process should be expanded just a survey. Thus, in this study modifications to the German methodology have been done in order to develop evaluation process of the air olfactory quality assessment. It has been concluded that the legislation related to odours should be introduced in Poland in order to improve the evaluation of the problem and finding the optimal deodoration solution.