Odour of Volatile Aromatics

Changes in odour and taste are frequently more irksome than minor health disorders. Industrial odour immissions by toluene, xylenes and styrene have been referred to earlier [42]. Odours from combustion processes, such as for example from diesel fuels, are unpleasant. Comparative odour threshold values have been given for benzene of 4.7 ppm, for toluene of 2.1 ppm, for xylene of 0.5 ppm, for chlorobenzene of 0.2 ppm, for styrene of 0.05 ppm, and for nitrobenzene of 0.005 ppm [11]. Slightly lower odour thresholds are reported by other scientists 0.9-1.6 ppm for benzene, 0.03-0.5 ppm for toluene, and 0.15-0.18 ppm for xylene [12]. In water, quantities higher than 6.8 mg/m naphthalene, 37 mg/m styrene and 140 mg/m ethylbenzene cause unpleasant odours [13]. The following compounds may cause 

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