State-of-art of the legislation on odour emissions with a focus on the Italian studies

This review would like to point out the state-of-art of the European legislation for the odour pollution determination and management. Odour is generated by a mixture of more or less volatile and persistent compounds that surround us in daily life. European directives impose the use of corresponding technical standards for the application of the limits imposed. The different approaches (chemicals and/or olfactometries) and integrated evaluation methods for measuring and characterizing odour, even if in a very different way in the European territories, will be reviewed and commented. Specifically, the authors will describe and comment the main procedures for odour concentration determination (e.g., multigas sensors, electronic sensors for odour monitoring). It is important to note that the definition of odour does not take into account if an odour is "good" or "bad", but only if it exists. The limit value must guarantee a total equivalent level of environmental protection and does not involve a greater polluting load in the environment. Further, a deep revision of the Italian situation in terms of legislation and studies, will complete the paper.