Study of Odor Episodes Using Analytical and Modeling Approaches

Odor episodes are of particular concern in Catalonia, a region in NE Spain with an important industrial sector whose facilities, on many occasions, are located very close to population areas. In this contribution we show a methodology that has been applied to investigate the origin of bad odors episodes. The procedure combines, on one hand, an analytical approach, based on the acquisition of samples, and which requires the participation of the affected population; and on the other hand, a modeling approach, based on the use of mesoscale meteorological models to track back in time the origin of the air mass responsible of the discomfort. The system has been applied to the investigation of odor episodes suspected to be caused by a landfill facility.