DETERMINATION OF ODOR SOURCES FOR CONTROL
The successful solution of odor pollution problems first requires an assessment of the nature and extent of the problems. A plant or facility that emits odor from a single source (such as ii stack or vent) requires less effort than a plant with a variety of odor sources that may number in the hundreds. In the latter case, there is a need to assess the problem in such terms as to achieve maximum reduction in odor at a minimal control cost. Quantitative and accurate measurements of the various emission sources and their contribution to the odor in the ambient air must be determined in order to identify and rank the various sources that should receive priority for control. Accurate measurements of odor strength relative to concentration are also useful for defining the degree of control necessary for the single-source situation. Attempts to relate source odor measurements with ambient odors by the use of diffusion equations have met with varying degrees of success.1.2 Wohlers,l utilizing an evacuated bulb technique for sampling stack gases from a petroleum coking plant, a kralt paper mill, an anion-garlic dehydrating plant, and a rotogravure printing plant, found that odor measurements at the stacks did not agree in all cases with the calculated dilutions at the distances in the field where the odors were noted. Hogstrom2 demonstrated that a fluctuating plume dispersion model can be used to give realistic estimates of odor frequencies around a point source when the odor thresholds of the chimney gases (sulphate pulp factory) are determined by sampling and sensory methods described by Lindvall.3 Our experience in sampling and evaluating odors has indicated that existing sampling techniques such as ASTM syringe method have seriously underestimated the magnitude of odors emitted by a factor in the range of 2OO-2O,OOO.4 We believe that inadequate sampling and evaluation techniques are the major reasons for reported “failures” of dispersion estimates in predicting ambient odors. In our technique, we use trained odor chemists to carry out odor surveys of the surrounding areas to define the odor types and intensities perceived off-site and to conduct in-plant surveys to identify all significant odor sources. T o supplement this, we have developed a source-sampling detailed laboratory odor-evaluation technique to allow comparison of the various odor sources and to make use of predictions based on dispersion equations. We have observed reasonably good correlation between predicted odor intensities from the source analyses determined in the laboratory and those observed by our analysts in the field. OFF-SITE SURVEY
A New Microprocessor-Controlled Dynamic Olfactometer
The assessment and abatement of odorous emissions requires odor measurements to determine the magnitude of the problem and the effectiveness of control measures. This paper discusses a new concept in dynamic olfactometers designed to investigate a new approach to odor measurement. Thermal mass flowmeters, with microprocessor controlled flow and automatic valving, supply variable levels of concentrated odorant and clean dilution air to a static mixing device. The accurate and reproducible dilutions are presented to panelists through special funnels, and can be delivered to analyzers to verify the accuracy of dilution. The calibration and design details are discussed. Possible applications and future modifications are also examined.
Gill diseases of cultured salmonids in Ontario.
Between 1977 and 1981, the Fish Pathology Laboratory of the Ontario Veterinary College received 239 cases from trout farms of southern Ontario, 51 (21.3%) of which had diseased gills. Branchial lesions in 86.3% of these 51 cases were characterized by marked lamellar epithelial hyperplasia with epithelial hypertrophy and lamellar fusion. Filamentous bacteria were seen on the surface of the branchial filaments and lamellae in 68.6% of the cases. Our observations highlight the importance of gill diseases as a production problem of farmed salmonids in southern Ontario.