Odour nuisance: introduction

Dutch environment policy makes a distinction between odour nuisance and severe odour nuisance. The Second National Environmental Policy Plan (VROM, 1993) contains objectives for these problems.

Distinction between nuisance and severe nuisance

The government use two definitions for the environmental problem of odour nuisance: odour nuisance and severe odour nuisance. The concept of odour nuisance is based on the terminology used by Statistics Netherlands in its Permanent Onderzoek Leefsituatie (Ongoing Survey of Living Conditions). The term 'severe odour nuisance' comes from the periodical nuisance survey conducted by TNO (also known as the 'questionnaire survey').
Odour nuisance (in the Statistics Netherlands definition) is defined as experiencing frequent or occasional nuisance from stench, in line with the questions asked in the Permanent Onderzoek Leefsituatie (CBS, 1995). Sources of odour included in the survey are road traffic, industry or business, agriculture and open fires/multi-burners.
Severe odour nuisance (in the definition given by TNO) is based on the question from the periodical nuisance survey of TNO about the extent to which people see a specific source in the living environment as a nuisance on a scale from of 1 (not a nuisance at all) to 10 (extreme nuisance). People giving answers in the 8 to 10 range are classified as experiencing 'severe nuisance'.
It is not easy to compare the concepts because of the different ways the questions are formulated and the different definitions of the sources. As a result, the Statistics Netherlands survey and the TNO questionnaire survey yield different results.

Extent of odour nuisance

An annual survey conducted by Statistics Netherlands into the appreciation of the human living environment shows that, in 2001, 15% of the population in the Netherlands suffered nuisance caused by odours from road traffic and/or industry (CBS, 2002). The same survey also shows that agriculture, open fires and multi-burners are major sources of odour nuisance.
TNO research shows that sewers are the main source of odour nuisance: 19% nuisance and 11% severe nuisance (De Jong and Steenbekkers, 1999). The Statistics Netherlands survey does not ask about odour nuisance from sewers.

• See the indicator Odour nuisance in the Netherlands by source, 1990-2002, for a complete overview of the figures.

Policy objective

The policy objective in the Second National Environmental Policy Plan was that no more than 12% of the Dutch population would suffer odour nuisance from road traffic and industry in 2000, with agriculture being classified under industry (VROM, 1993). The percentage of 12% is based on the assessment of odour nuisance made by Statistics Netherlands.
In addition to the odour nuisance objective for 2000, another objective states that, in 2010, the Dutch population should no longer experience any severe odour nuisance. This objective is based on the severe odour nuisance measured with the TNO method.
No new objectives were set out in NEPP4 (VROM, 2001). The objective for 2010 for severe nuisance has been maintained.

Review of permits

Environmental permits are granted to companies that emit or that may emit substances that cause odour nuisance. At present, this procedure is based on the Environmental Management Act and odour regulations which mostly date from the eighties. For example, intensive livestock holdings are granted permits if a farm is at a certain distance from properties that are susceptible to odour nuisance. Here, the procedure looks at farms that are already present (accumulation) and at the function of adjoining properties. For houses in built-up areas, the distance is larger than for homes in the country. This distance is determined on the basis of the size of the herd.

Future policy

The agricultural odour policy is currently under review. The reason for this is the restructuring of agricultural land. If the proposals are approved, the review will result in a relaxation of the standards for odour nuisance generated by agriculture. This is because sources already in place will be taken into account less than previously when granting permits to farms.

References

• CBS (2002). Permanent Onderzoek Leefsituatie 2001. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
• Jong de R.G., J.H.M. Steenbekkers and H. Vos (2000). Hinder en andere zelf-gerapporteerde effecten van milieuverontreiniging in Nederland, Inventarisatie Verstoringen 1998. TNO-PG, Delft.
• VROM (1993). National Environmental Policy Plan 2. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.
• VROM (2001). National Environmental Policy Plan 4. Working on sustainability: Where there's a will there's a world. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Definitions and units for noise and odour
• Odour nuisance in the Netherlands by source, 1990-2002

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• VROM (1985). Brochure 'Veehouderij en Hinderwet'. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.
• VROM (1985). Beoordeling cumulatie stankhinder door intensieve veehouderij, Publicatiereeks Lucht no. 46. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.
• VROM (1995). Brief aan de Tweede Kamer: Herziene nota stankbeleid, voorbereiding algemeen overleg stank, 31 January 1995. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.
• VROM (1996). Richtlijn Veehouderij en Stankhinder. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.
• VROM (2001). Geurhinderonderzoek stallen intensieve veehouderij. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague.
• VROM (2001). Mest- en ammoniakbeleid - brief over beoordelingskader voor stank uit stallen. Dutch Lower House, 2000-2001, 24445, no. 64.