- Email: [email protected]
Conditions for a Policy on Stench
Biotechniques for Air Pollution Abaremenr and Odour Control Policies A J . Drag1 and J . van IIam (Edirors) 0 1992 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved.
11
CONDITIONS FOR A POLICY ON STENCH H.W. Riem Deputy of Environment in t h e Province of Limburg, P.O. Box 5700, NL 6202 MA Maastricht, The Netherlands 1.
STENCH As A MAJOR PROBLEM OF NUISANCE
Stench, o r odor nuisance if you would prefer, is one of t h e most common forms of environmental nuisance in this country. Environmental surveys have shown t h a t one in five of t h e Dutch population is affected by stench. The s a m e picture emerges from an evaluation of t h e complaints t h a t have c o m e in to t h e province's environmental phone line in recent years. Two thirds of t h e complaints concerned stench. This is a long way ahead of t h e next most common type of complaint: noise complaints. These contribute with 13%. I must say t h a t I find i t shocking t h a t so many people are exposed t o and bothered by stench. Stench c a n b e very irritating. Although we seldom actively use our nose, i t is a very sensitive organ which provides a lot of information. However, w e use this information very little. Smell is perhaps t h e most unconscious of our senses. We c a n barely interpret t h e information supplied by t h e nose. But if our nose is unpleasantly stimulated, i t is a very annoying experience. Odorous substances s t i m u l a t e a p a r t of t h e brain t h a t has t o do with feelings and conflicts. Everybody experiences it. I suppose this is why everybody discusses t h e problem of stench.
People who regularly, o r for long periods, suffer from stench nuisance usually feel unwell. And according t o t h e World Health Organization's definition they not only feel unwell. They really a r e less healthy. The WHO says: "Health is a s t a t e of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely t h e absence of disease and infirmity". Unhealthiness caused by stench is - contrary t o what many complainants feel - not caused by t h e f a c t t h a t what one smells is poisonous. Stench damages health because of t h e irritation i t causes. So above all stench is a m a t t e r of nuisance. Stench is also a m a t t e r of experience. While one person may find an odor divine, another may turn his nose up a t it. What one person may consider an intolerable stench, another may not smell a t all.
2.
SOURCES MUST BE INDENTIFIED
As I said earlier, large numbers of people in this country a r e bothered by stench daily. Anyone driving through t h e Netherlands regularly experiences t h e penetrating stench of animal manure t h a t hangs like a cloud over large p a r t s of t h e country. The livestock industry is a major source of stench in t h e Netherlands. I a m pleased t o note that you are devoting a special session t o tackling stench from intensive livestock farming.
12 But there a r e also many industrial sources of stench. Iron foundries, paper factories, mineral wool manufacturing and the chemical industry, not t o mention sewage purification and fertilizer plants. W e a r e familiar with all of these branches of industry in Limburg. I t appears t h a t people, who experience stench as a nuisance, express their irritation in different ways. A certain group will take action t o solve t h e problems of t h e stench. These people very quickly call on the government for help. This actually happens, as can be seen from the number of complaints. Unfortunately i t soon becomes clear that t h e government has very little t o offer as t h e problem of stench is still only in a phase of observation.
In Limburg we have not y e t made a systematic inventory of t h e most important sources of stench although we fully intend to. Up t o now i t has been a simple m a t t e r t o discover stench occurences but i t has been far more difficult to precisely locate its sources and causes and t o carry out reliable measurements of its extent. Calculations of the dispersal of stench with t h e aid of models have up t o now been unable t o give a reliable picture of t h e true extent of stench. I t appears t h a t acquiring good basic data for policy purposes is very difficult. This may explain the absence, t o a large extent, of any policy on stench up t o now. This is quite a remarkable observation if you consider t h e f a c t t h a t in this country air pollution and nuisance a r e among the oldest issues of environmental policy. The government would appear t o have given a low priority t o specific consideration of t h e problem of stench. Happily t h e organizers of this symposium have made t i m e for consideration of t h e possibilities for designing a policy on stench. And you will not be surprised t h a t I a m looking forward t o t h a t discussion with great interest because in Limburg we have undertaken t h e difficult task of developing a policy on stench in t h e coming years. 3.
CONDITIONS FOR A POLICY ON STENCH
To develop a useful and feasible policy on stench, in my opinion t h e following m a t t e r s a r e important. 3.1 Reliable methods for measments Firstly, we need opportunities t o carry out an effective inventory of t h e sources of stench. For this a practical and reliable method of measurement will b e needed. Alas i t appears t h a t we a r e still a long way from achieving this. I noticed t h a t you will b e giving a lot of attention in t h e coming days t o the subject of odor measurement, and olfactometry in particular. Olfactometry is an important aid t o odor measurement, but a f t e r all i t is still a matter of human smelling. Whether our noses can in f a c t d e t e c t certain substances depends on personal sensitivity as well as t h e odorous properties and concentration of t h e substance. And to determine whether the air actually stinks and how bad t h e stench is, up t o now we cannot but rely on t h e human sense of smell. In judging t h e qualities of odors, the issue of how they are experienced is crucial. That determines t h e sensation experienced: whether i t is pleasurable, or, in fact, a nuisance. I fear t h a t t h e slow progress being made in measuring odors will remain a barrier to successfully tackling t h e problem of stench for some t i m e yet.
13
3.2 Verification framework The second point I want t o make here concerns t h e establishment of standards. To arrive a t a concrete and verifiable policy we need clear norms. The discussion surrounding the establishment of norms for stench has been in progress for a considerable time but has not y e t led t o any conclusions. This indecision is caused, among other things, by the measurement problems I mentioned earlier. International agreement is also f a r from being reached. Anyhow we must quickly reach a clear and workable framework for verification if we really want t o make progress in formulating and carrying out policy. 3.3 Abatement techniques Besides measuring methods and a verification framework for stench levels, technical regulations a r e of course also needed t o solve t h e stench problem. These regulations are aimed a t achieving the desired norms. Although this will not always b e easy i t must be done. If necessary we shall have t o draw up long-term clean-up programmes for individual plants. In Limburg we have proposed reducing odor nuisance t o such an extent t h a t by the year 2000 odor norms will no longer be breached. So we have decided t o conform t o whatever norms a r e fixed in the future. In granting licenses t o companies we already prescribe the most feasible techniques. For t h e government it is very important t o keep in touch with the latest developments in new technologies t o tackle air pollution and stench. W e use this information when issuing licenses t o companies. So we shall. also be following with interest your sessions on t h e possibilities, experiences and problems of various gas purification and odor removal techniques. 3.4 Communication Finally, a complete policy on tackling foul odors will require t h e development of good communication between all the parties involved. In this connection I would once again like t o stress t h a t stench is primarily a nuisance, a problem of individual experience. In t h e symposium t h e emphasis is strongly on a technical approach t o t h e problem of stench, which is useful. But I hope you will also devote considerable attention t o t h e human experience of odor nuisance, particularly in the sessions dealing with policy on stench. In view of the nature of stench, t h e individual must, a f t e r all, be central t o the search for solutions. Solutions will on the one hand be technical. On the other hand good information a t t h e right times is an important instrument in reducing t h e level of nuisance experienced. This applies t o direct information on t h e manner in which the problem of stench is being tackled. People who know t h a t a solution is being sought already feel better. They no longer feel completely powerless against nuisance if it is clear t o them that within t h e foreseeable - and certain - future, i t will end. I will not suggest t h a t the solution lies solely with information. Technical regulations a r e certainly necessary. But technical regulations alone will neither produce a good policy on stench. 4.
NEED OF AN INTERNATIONAL APPROACH
I would finally like to point out t h e importance of an international discussion such as this. In my view odor policy must be developed in a transnational context. That may a t first sound somewhat exaggerated, since odor nuisance is primarily a local problem. But international agreement would help when i t comes t o selecting methods for measuring and establishing norms for permissible levels of odor nuisance. I further would like t o
11
CONDITIONS FOR A POLICY ON STENCH H.W. Riem Deputy of Environment in t h e Province of Limburg, P.O. Box 5700, NL 6202 MA Maastricht, The Netherlands 1.
STENCH As A MAJOR PROBLEM OF NUISANCE
Stench, o r odor nuisance if you would prefer, is one of t h e most common forms of environmental nuisance in this country. Environmental surveys have shown t h a t one in five of t h e Dutch population is affected by stench. The s a m e picture emerges from an evaluation of t h e complaints t h a t have c o m e in to t h e province's environmental phone line in recent years. Two thirds of t h e complaints concerned stench. This is a long way ahead of t h e next most common type of complaint: noise complaints. These contribute with 13%. I must say t h a t I find i t shocking t h a t so many people are exposed t o and bothered by stench. Stench c a n b e very irritating. Although we seldom actively use our nose, i t is a very sensitive organ which provides a lot of information. However, w e use this information very little. Smell is perhaps t h e most unconscious of our senses. We c a n barely interpret t h e information supplied by t h e nose. But if our nose is unpleasantly stimulated, i t is a very annoying experience. Odorous substances s t i m u l a t e a p a r t of t h e brain t h a t has t o do with feelings and conflicts. Everybody experiences it. I suppose this is why everybody discusses t h e problem of stench.
People who regularly, o r for long periods, suffer from stench nuisance usually feel unwell. And according t o t h e World Health Organization's definition they not only feel unwell. They really a r e less healthy. The WHO says: "Health is a s t a t e of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely t h e absence of disease and infirmity". Unhealthiness caused by stench is - contrary t o what many complainants feel - not caused by t h e f a c t t h a t what one smells is poisonous. Stench damages health because of t h e irritation i t causes. So above all stench is a m a t t e r of nuisance. Stench is also a m a t t e r of experience. While one person may find an odor divine, another may turn his nose up a t it. What one person may consider an intolerable stench, another may not smell a t all.
2.
SOURCES MUST BE INDENTIFIED
As I said earlier, large numbers of people in this country a r e bothered by stench daily. Anyone driving through t h e Netherlands regularly experiences t h e penetrating stench of animal manure t h a t hangs like a cloud over large p a r t s of t h e country. The livestock industry is a major source of stench in t h e Netherlands. I a m pleased t o note that you are devoting a special session t o tackling stench from intensive livestock farming.
12 But there a r e also many industrial sources of stench. Iron foundries, paper factories, mineral wool manufacturing and the chemical industry, not t o mention sewage purification and fertilizer plants. W e a r e familiar with all of these branches of industry in Limburg. I t appears t h a t people, who experience stench as a nuisance, express their irritation in different ways. A certain group will take action t o solve t h e problems of t h e stench. These people very quickly call on the government for help. This actually happens, as can be seen from the number of complaints. Unfortunately i t soon becomes clear that t h e government has very little t o offer as t h e problem of stench is still only in a phase of observation.
In Limburg we have not y e t made a systematic inventory of t h e most important sources of stench although we fully intend to. Up t o now i t has been a simple m a t t e r t o discover stench occurences but i t has been far more difficult to precisely locate its sources and causes and t o carry out reliable measurements of its extent. Calculations of the dispersal of stench with t h e aid of models have up t o now been unable t o give a reliable picture of t h e true extent of stench. I t appears t h a t acquiring good basic data for policy purposes is very difficult. This may explain the absence, t o a large extent, of any policy on stench up t o now. This is quite a remarkable observation if you consider t h e f a c t t h a t in this country air pollution and nuisance a r e among the oldest issues of environmental policy. The government would appear t o have given a low priority t o specific consideration of t h e problem of stench. Happily t h e organizers of this symposium have made t i m e for consideration of t h e possibilities for designing a policy on stench. And you will not be surprised t h a t I a m looking forward t o t h a t discussion with great interest because in Limburg we have undertaken t h e difficult task of developing a policy on stench in t h e coming years. 3.
CONDITIONS FOR A POLICY ON STENCH
To develop a useful and feasible policy on stench, in my opinion t h e following m a t t e r s a r e important. 3.1 Reliable methods for measments Firstly, we need opportunities t o carry out an effective inventory of t h e sources of stench. For this a practical and reliable method of measurement will b e needed. Alas i t appears t h a t we a r e still a long way from achieving this. I noticed t h a t you will b e giving a lot of attention in t h e coming days t o the subject of odor measurement, and olfactometry in particular. Olfactometry is an important aid t o odor measurement, but a f t e r all i t is still a matter of human smelling. Whether our noses can in f a c t d e t e c t certain substances depends on personal sensitivity as well as t h e odorous properties and concentration of t h e substance. And to determine whether the air actually stinks and how bad t h e stench is, up t o now we cannot but rely on t h e human sense of smell. In judging t h e qualities of odors, the issue of how they are experienced is crucial. That determines t h e sensation experienced: whether i t is pleasurable, or, in fact, a nuisance. I fear t h a t t h e slow progress being made in measuring odors will remain a barrier to successfully tackling t h e problem of stench for some t i m e yet.
13
3.2 Verification framework The second point I want t o make here concerns t h e establishment of standards. To arrive a t a concrete and verifiable policy we need clear norms. The discussion surrounding the establishment of norms for stench has been in progress for a considerable time but has not y e t led t o any conclusions. This indecision is caused, among other things, by the measurement problems I mentioned earlier. International agreement is also f a r from being reached. Anyhow we must quickly reach a clear and workable framework for verification if we really want t o make progress in formulating and carrying out policy. 3.3 Abatement techniques Besides measuring methods and a verification framework for stench levels, technical regulations a r e of course also needed t o solve t h e stench problem. These regulations are aimed a t achieving the desired norms. Although this will not always b e easy i t must be done. If necessary we shall have t o draw up long-term clean-up programmes for individual plants. In Limburg we have proposed reducing odor nuisance t o such an extent t h a t by the year 2000 odor norms will no longer be breached. So we have decided t o conform t o whatever norms a r e fixed in the future. In granting licenses t o companies we already prescribe the most feasible techniques. For t h e government it is very important t o keep in touch with the latest developments in new technologies t o tackle air pollution and stench. W e use this information when issuing licenses t o companies. So we shall. also be following with interest your sessions on t h e possibilities, experiences and problems of various gas purification and odor removal techniques. 3.4 Communication Finally, a complete policy on tackling foul odors will require t h e development of good communication between all the parties involved. In this connection I would once again like t o stress t h a t stench is primarily a nuisance, a problem of individual experience. In t h e symposium t h e emphasis is strongly on a technical approach t o t h e problem of stench, which is useful. But I hope you will also devote considerable attention t o t h e human experience of odor nuisance, particularly in the sessions dealing with policy on stench. In view of the nature of stench, t h e individual must, a f t e r all, be central t o the search for solutions. Solutions will on the one hand be technical. On the other hand good information a t t h e right times is an important instrument in reducing t h e level of nuisance experienced. This applies t o direct information on t h e manner in which the problem of stench is being tackled. People who know t h a t a solution is being sought already feel better. They no longer feel completely powerless against nuisance if it is clear t o them that within t h e foreseeable - and certain - future, i t will end. I will not suggest t h a t the solution lies solely with information. Technical regulations a r e certainly necessary. But technical regulations alone will neither produce a good policy on stench. 4.
NEED OF AN INTERNATIONAL APPROACH
I would finally like to point out t h e importance of an international discussion such as this. In my view odor policy must be developed in a transnational context. That may a t first sound somewhat exaggerated, since odor nuisance is primarily a local problem. But international agreement would help when i t comes t o selecting methods for measuring and establishing norms for permissible levels of odor nuisance. I further would like t o