Recruiting, training and managing a sensory panel in odor nuisance testing.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Sensory Science

Background:

• Growing environmental awareness increases interest in odor nuisance issues.
• Resident complaints highlight the need for objective odor measurement methods.
• Sensory panels offer a method for objective odor assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a procedure for selecting and training sensory analysis teams for odor nuisance testing.
• To provide guidelines for conducting sensory panel studies on odor nuisance.
• To compare the performance of sensory panels with different training durations.

Main Methods:

• Development of a selection and training protocol for sensory analysis teams.
• Implementation of odor nuisance testing using sensory panels.
• Comparative analysis of two sensory panels: one with 20 hours of basic training (EN 13725) and another with 60 hours of extended training.

Main Results:

• Extended sensory training (60h) compared to basic training (20h) demonstrated improved panel performance.
• Increased knowledge and competence in sensory analysis correlate with enhanced precision in odor determinations.
• Adequate sensory training is crucial for improving both individual and overall panel precision.

Conclusions:

• The presented procedures supplement the EN 13725 standard for building and convening sensory panels.
• Enhanced sensory training significantly improves the reliability and accuracy of odor nuisance assessments.
• Investing in comprehensive sensory analysis training is vital for objective environmental odor evaluation.