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Assessment of odour annoyance in chemical emergency management
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Series / Report no.
RIVM report 609200001
Open Access
Type
Report
Language
en
Date
2009-06-11
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Title
Assessment of odour annoyance in chemical emergency
management
Translated Title
Bepaling van geurhinder voor
crisisbeheersing
Published in
Abstract
Bij chemische incidenten zal de blootgestelde bevolking
de aanwezigheid van een ongebruikelijke geur vaak interpreteren als een
mogelijk gezondheidsrisico. Dit rapport beschrijft een methode om de
luchtconcentratie te schatten waarbij de blootgestelde bevolking zich bewust
wordt van de aanwezigheid van een chemische stof door geur(hinder). Deze
waarneming kan communicatie en andere maatregelen nodig maken, zelfs bij
afwezigheid van relevante toxische risico's.
De voorgestelde methode zal het begrip bij crisisbeheersers over onrust bij
de getroffenen door geurwaarneming vergroten, en hen beter in staat stellen
te beslissen wanneer welke crisisbeheersingsmaatregelen wenselijk zijn.
De methode sluit aan bij consensus binnen het Acute Exposure Guideline
Levels (AEGL) programma waarin is bepaald dat een concentratie waarbij 50%
van een afgeleide incidenteel blootgestelde bevolking een 'duidelijke' geur
waarneemt, dit beschouwd wordt als 'duidelijke geurwaarneming'. De
luchtconcentratie waarbij dat optreedt heet 'Level of Distinct Odour
Awareness (LOA)'. De LOA wordt in drie stappen bepaald: 1. Selecteer een
goede geurdrempel, bijvoorbeeld via een van de aangegeven bronnen. 2.
Bepaal een niveau van 'duidelijke' geurwaarneming. 3. Verdisconteer
veldomstandigheden zoals leeftijd, verkoudheid en blootstellingspatroon.
De LOA moet voor iedere stof apart worden afgeleid. De beschikbaarheid van
goede informatie voor de stappen 1 en 2 blijkt in de praktijk beperkend te
zijn; deze beperkingen zijn deels omzeild door gebruik van
standaardwaarden.
In chemical emergencies the exposed community is likely to interpret the presence of an unusual odour not common to the normal 'odour landscape' as a potential health risk. This report describes a methodology for assessing the airborne concentration level at which the exposed community is likely to become aware of the presence of a chemical by detecting its odour, which in turn may require communicative emergency response activities, even in the absence of toxicological health risks. The presented methodology will help emergency response organizations to improve the understanding of odour driven public concerns in chemical emergencies, and improve their ability to assess if and which type of response is adequate. The methodology builds on consensus reached within the Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGL) program that an airborne concentration producing a distinct odour perception in more than half of an accidentally exposed, distracted population would qualify as significant odour awareness. This concentration is designated as 'Level of distinct Odour Awareness (LOA)'. The LOA is determined in three steps: 1. Select an appropriate odour threshold, for instance from one of the suggested sources. 2. Derive a distinct odour level based on the Weber-Fechner equation. 3. Adjust for field circumstances such as age, head cold and the usual exposure pattern. The LOA must be developed on a chemical-by-chemical basis. The availability of high quality chemical specific information for steps 1 and 2 is a major hurdle, which has been partly overcome by introducing default values.
In chemical emergencies the exposed community is likely to interpret the presence of an unusual odour not common to the normal 'odour landscape' as a potential health risk. This report describes a methodology for assessing the airborne concentration level at which the exposed community is likely to become aware of the presence of a chemical by detecting its odour, which in turn may require communicative emergency response activities, even in the absence of toxicological health risks. The presented methodology will help emergency response organizations to improve the understanding of odour driven public concerns in chemical emergencies, and improve their ability to assess if and which type of response is adequate. The methodology builds on consensus reached within the Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGL) program that an airborne concentration producing a distinct odour perception in more than half of an accidentally exposed, distracted population would qualify as significant odour awareness. This concentration is designated as 'Level of distinct Odour Awareness (LOA)'. The LOA is determined in three steps: 1. Select an appropriate odour threshold, for instance from one of the suggested sources. 2. Derive a distinct odour level based on the Weber-Fechner equation. 3. Adjust for field circumstances such as age, head cold and the usual exposure pattern. The LOA must be developed on a chemical-by-chemical basis. The availability of high quality chemical specific information for steps 1 and 2 is a major hurdle, which has been partly overcome by introducing default values.
Description
Publisher
CrisisTox Consult
Municipal Health Service Rotterdam (GGD)
OdourNet BV
Municipal Health Service Rotterdam (GGD)
OdourNet BV
Sponsors
VROM