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. 2023 Jul 25;10(3):337–352. doi: 10.1007/s40572-023-00403-w

Table 2.

Frequency or odds ratio of reported health complaints for single and multi-pollutant community odorant exposure events. List of symptoms is non-exhaustive. NA = not evaluated in the study

Single Pollutant Community Exposure Studies Multiple Pollutant Community Exposure Studies
Reference Behbod et al., 2014 [54] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008 [22••] Ames and Stratton, 1991 [57••] Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 2016 [78••] Georgieff and Turnovska, 1999 [40•] Jaakkola et al. 1990 [41•] Kangas, 1984 [42•]
Location Eight Mile, AL Fairburn, GA Dorris, CA Aliso Canyon Underground Gas Storage Facility, Porter Ranch, CA Bulgaria Finland Finland
Exposure source Contaminated spring Wastewater treatment facility Treated agricultural field Natural gas storage facility Cellulose paper plant Pulp mills Pulp mills
Compounds exposed to TBM NPM NPM TBM, THT DMS, MM, H2S, etc. DMS, MM, H2S, DMDS, sulfur dioxide DMS, MM, H2S, DMDS, sulfur dioxide
Reporting value Percentage of individual respondents (n = 204) Percentage of individual respondents (n = 622) Odds ratio Percentage of households reporting (n = 210) Percentage of individuals who perceived the odor (n = 480) Odds ratio Percentage of exposed individuals (n = 81)
Headache (various units) 63.2 74.3 5.08 71.8 26.8 1.6-2.2 12.3
Eye, nasal and/or throat irritation (various units) 40.2 (eye) 46.6 (throat); 54.4 (nasal); 56.4 (cough) 57.7 (burning eyes); 53.9 (cough/sore throat) 3.58 (sore throat); 5.31 (runny nose); 5.64 (burning/itching eyes) 73.9 51.9 11.7-11.8 (eyes); 2.0-2.2 (nasal); 1.9-3.1 (cough) NA
Respiratory complaint (various units) 46.1 (sinus); 37.8 (difficulty breathing); 15.7 (asthma exacerbation) 45.5 (difficulty breathing) 6.0 (asthma attacks); 3.5 (hay fever attacks); 3.44 (difficulty breathing) 67 NA 1.6-2.4 (breathlessness or wheezing) NA
Skin rash or irritation (various units) 37.3 9.2 2.43 46.1 53.8 NA NA
Dizziness (various units) 36.8 5.3 NA 59.9 NA NA NA
Nausea or vomiting (various units) 28.9 48.7 1.86 (vomiting); 3.39 (nausea) 54.4 30.2 NA NA
Diarrhea (various units) 23.5 6.6 3.80 27 NA NA NA
Cardiovascular (various units) 27.5 (chest pain); 23.5 (irregular heart beat); 28.9 (exacerbation of hypertension) .5 (rapid pulse, elevated blood pressure) NA NA NA NA NA
Trouble sleeping (various units) 52 NA NA NA 18.8 NA NA
Nosebleed (various units) NA 13.7 NA 30.9 NA NA NA