Comparison of Ambient Odor Assessment Techniques in a Controlled Environment

摘要

This paper compares results of using - dynamic triangular forced-choice olfactometry (DTFCO), Mask Scentometers, Nasal Rangers , and an odor intensity reference scale (OIRS) -intensity ratings - to assess odors in a controlled-environment chamber in the Iowa State University Air Dispersion Laboratory. The methods were used to assess thirteen odor levels in the chamber where swine manure mixed with water was used to vary the odor levels. Dynamic triangular forced-choice olfactometry did not correlatewell to the other ambient odor assessment methods. Predicting D/T using intensity ratings degraded R_O~2 with the other methods in all cases. Average Intensity-predicted D/T, the Mask Scentometer and the Nasal Ranger`R correlated well with each other, had strong R_o~2 (greater than 0.85), had regression slopes nearest one, and the session means were not found to be significantly different (a=0.05). Using the geometric means of the device D/T settings, (D/T)g, improved R_o~ 2 between the other methods and the Nasal Ranger`R and Mask Scentometer. Average Intensity-predicted D/T values were three to four times higher than Nasal Ranger`R assessment ((D/T)g and D/T, respectively), and a Nasal Ranger`R (D/T)g was roughly five times higher than Mask Scentometer (D/T)g.