427 * For correspondence. Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology 17, No 2, 427–434 (2016) Atmospheric pollution ODOUR CAUSING DISCOMFORT AND THEIR IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH C. CERCELARU, I. IONEL*, R. M. BALOGH Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Politehnica University Timisoara, Mihai Viteazu Blvd., 300 222 Timisoara, Romania E-mail: ioana.ionel@upt.ro; ramon.balog@upt.ro; cristina.cercelaru@yahoo.com Abstract. Urban air pollution is rapidly becoming an environmental problem of public concern worldwide. Monitoring and evaluation of air pollution became a necessity of great importance for the sustainable development of the society and protection of the ecosystems. Compounds such as hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S) and ammonia (NH 3 ) are clearly identiied to be major odours speciic for urban areas, and due to their high olfactory impact, they have to be monitored. The paper relates to such results, with respect to the urban and industrial area of Timisoara, considered one of the largest cities in Romania which has a highly developed industry, and also a large urban crowded trafic. The present paper presents results of a campaign accomplished in urban areas in the Timisoara city, and conclusions driven versus measured values are indicated. Keywords: pollution, odours, emission, health. AIMS AND BACKGROUND The need for continuous monitoring of non-standard pollutant concentration in the air has increased considerably over recent years, driven by health and safety concerns (toxic gases) and odour related nuisance or discomfort 1 . Nevertheless many authors achieved research in the domain, for the Balkan region especially 2,3 . The paper refers to a special campaign during which, for the irst time in the Timisoara area, monitoring compounds such as hydrogen sulphide (H 2 S), ammonia (NH 3 ) were clearly identiied. These species have been selected for monitoring due to their high olfactory impact. Besides healthy risks linked to particles or bio aerosol emission, signiicant odour emissions are regularly encountered even if species are emitted at low ppbv level. The ecosystem of Timisoara is constantly changing also due to increased surface constructed and measurements taken to reduce them; by this way the risk of air pollution with particles is under control, as through the complex phenomena of the annual average temperature global growth, thermal inversions are more oc- curring. Air pollution with odour/smell/ is considered as the introduction by man,