ORIGINAL PAPER
IS EXPOSURE TO UNPLEASANT ODORS HARMFUL TO HUMAN HEALTH? (our everyday stench)
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1
Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Jarosławiu
2
Politechnika Rzeszowska w Rzeszowie
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Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Przemyślu
Publication date: 2026-06-29
Człowiek. Systemy. Bezpieczeństwo 2026;2(1):17-42
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ABSTRACT
Wherever humans engage in any economic activity, waste appears, often in the form of garbage, sewage, and farm debris. Various gases, dust, and hazardous chemical compounds are released into the environment, leading to the formation of so-called bioaerosols and odors – unpleasant smells. Due to their qualitative composition (saprophytic, infectious, and mixed microorganisms), bioaerosols pose a significant threat to human health. The epidemiological threat of bioaerosols stems from the fact that they spread microorganisms through the airstream that retain their viability and virulence after drying. Unpleasant odors arise from the microbiological decomposition of organic compounds. Odors occurring around emission sources (sewage treatment plants, landfills, landfills, and composting facilities) are the main cause of public complaints about environmental quality. Perceptible unpleasant odors are caused by numerous chemical compounds, most often containing sulfur, such as hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans (thiols), which form a mixture. The richer the waste is in sulfur, the more sulfides and mercaptans bacteria will produce, and consequently, the more foul it will stink. Odors cause significant psychological discomfort. The harmful effects of odors primarily involve their destructive impact on people’s psyche, which can lead to or exacerbate somatic complaints. Gas deodorization can involve: removing odor-inducing pollutants, often present in trace amounts alongside dominant pollutants; transforming odor-inducing pollutants into odorless ones or those characterized by a high olfactory threshold; introducing admixtures that change the character of the odor or reduce its intensity (masking and neutralizing agents).