A screening tool for selection of field odor assessors.

Field odor assessors are required to rate or describe several odor parameters, such as intensity, duration, offensiveness, and character. Ideally, their assessments should reflect the average odor perception of a specific community. The authors developed a three-part screening test for recruiting odor assessors: (1) distinguishing between different odorants by means of a triangular forced-choice test; (2) evaluating odor intensity; and (3) describing hedonic tone and odor character.

Odorants and malodors associated with land application of biosolids stabilized with lime and coal fly ash.

Malodor emissions limit public acceptance of using municipal biosolids as natural organic resources in agricultural production. We aimed to identify major odorants and to evaluate odor concentrations associated with land application of anaerobically digested sewage sludges (Class B) and their alkaline (lime and coal fly ash)-stabilized products (Class A). These two types of biosolids were applied at 12.

Dynamics of offensive gas-phase odorants in fresh and aged feces throughout the development of beef cattle.

Livestock odors are largely caused by several groups of volatile organic compounds (VOC), including sulfur-containing compounds, VFA, and phenols and indoles. Throughout the growth stages of cattle in the nursery and feedlot, distinctly different diets are formulated to meet the changing requirements of the animal. Because diet composition and manure management are 2 major factors affecting odor emissions, it was assumed that changes in diet composition along the development of calves would affect VOC emissions from fresh and stored manure.