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Odours

Pigs at a pig farm [photo].

Pigs aren’t necessarily smelly, but
pig farms can be if not properly
managed.

What is odour?

Odour is a sensory response to the inhalation of chemicals. When the sensors in your nose come into contact with an odorous chemical, they send a signal to your brain, which interprets the signal as an odour. The human sense of smell is very sensitive to a wide range of odorous chemicals.

What causes odour?

Odours are caused by mixtures of chemical compounds and can come from a wide range of sources, for example, garden compost heaps, landfills, mushroom farms, silage, and car and bus exhausts.

How does odour affect people and the environment?

Odour affects people differently. The main effect of odours in the environment is nuisance, as odour can affect your enjoyment of the outdoors. In more serious cases, it may lead to feelings of nausea, sickness or headache. People’s response to odour varies. For example, people who live and work in rural areas may find silage smells okay, while urban dwellers may find silage smells offensive.

More information about odour is available in our page on odour management in New Zealand.

Last updated: 17 July 2009