Newsletter ID: Bulletin, 2009.
Services: Environmental Laboratory Services
September 18, 2009
Our Pinchin Environmental Odour Lab participated in the 2009 Interlaboratory Olfactometry Comparison, a study evaluating the repeatability and accuracy of odour analysis results from olfactometry laboratories around the world.
The annual study, administered by OLFAtec in Germany, drew 37 participant labs from 13 countries in Europe and North America. Pinchin Environmental was the only Canadian laboratory to participate in the study.
Odour Analysis
Odour samples are routinely collected from industrial smoke stacks to evaluate the neighbourhood impact of odour and to facilitate odour abatement studies.
Odour analysis by olfactometry uses trained odour assessors who determine the odour concentration of air samples. These assessors are independent members of the local community who have no stake in the outcome of the analysis.
Pinchin's assessors undergo extensive sensitivity training following the European Standard EN 13725:2003 “Air quality – Determination of odour concentration by dynamic olfactometry”. During each odour analysis session, they are challenged with blind calibration samples to accurately track each assessor’s repeatability and accuracy, in accordance with the European Standard.
Details of the Odour Study
For the 2009 Interlaboratory Comparison, ten n-butanol samples of unknown concentrations were evaluated and results were sent to OLFAtec for comparison with the European Standard and the other participant laboratories.
Results
Pinchin’s results for n-butanol analysis met the accuracy requirements of the European Standard across all samples and achieved 90% on the repeatability tests.
Once again these independent study results demonstrate Pinchin's ability to meet the requirements of one of the most stringent international odour analysis standards as well as comply with the new 2009 Ontario Ministry of the Environment odour analysis requirements.
For more information on Pinchin's Odour Laboratory, please contact Shawn McDonald at 905-363-1356 or email her via Environmental Laboratory Services - Odour Analyis on our Contact Form.
