Issue 27, March 2009

Odours are volatilised chemical compounds that can be detected by our sense of smell. Some odours can be pleasant.  But if unpleasant or unwanted chemical odours are frequently a problem for your indoor environment, they also may be hazardous to the health of your or your occupants.    

Odours may come from a variety of sources including:

• Microbial activity (moulds / fungi / bacteria)

• Emissions from building materials and furniture

• Chemicals including cleaning products and cosmetics

• Industrial processes

• Air Pollution

• Chemical contamination 

Odours occurring in homes or work places are common and can have varying effects on you and your occupants, ranging from annoyance to more serious symptoms.

Acute short term health symptoms that can occur as a result of exposure to chemical odours include respiratory, eye and skin irritation.  The symptoms may disappear when the person leaves the source of the odour or the source dissipates. But note, some volatile chemical compounds (VOCs) have no detectable odour, but exposure can lead to health symptoms.

It is important for you and your occupants to minimise the exposure to chemical odours at home and work, both for general good health and well being.  In the work place the effect of indoor air quality (IAQ) on employee satisfaction and productivity is well documented.

At CETEC we are experienced in testing for odours and VOCs in indoor environments. We use specialised field and laboratory methods to determine the chemical make-up and concentration of odours in the air.  As a result we are able to:

• Assess the potential health and environmental risk;

• Determine the source of the odour; and

• Develop strategies for remediation.  

If you would like know more about the link between Indoor Environment Quality and Productivity or discuss your odour concerns you can call Dr Robert Schiller on (03) 9544 9111 or Andrew Bellamy on (02) 9966 9211 or contact us via this form.

For other CETEC articles about odour:
Indoor Pollutants

	Managing the Open Plan Indoor Environment
	Awards Night at UNSW
	Green Cities and Managing Indoor Environment Quality
	Smart Fabrics for Today and Tomorrow