Odor Emissions and Chemical Analysis of Odorous Compounds from Animal Buildings Larry D. Jacobson 1 , Neslihan Akdeniz, Lingshuang Cai, Shicheng Zhang, Jacek Koziel, Steven J. Hoff, Katie Heathcote, Albert J. Heber, Sarah Bereznicki, David B. Parker, Eddie Caraway 1 University of Minnesota, Bioproducts & Biosystems Eng., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA ABSTRACT Odor emissions from animal production buildings are a critical local issue according to the 2003 National Research Council report to the livestock and poultry industries. Even though federal and some state agencies do not regulate odors, emission of odorous compounds remains a high priority for animal producers (for siting new and expanding existing operations) and for neighbors living near livestock and poultry operations. There is limited data presently available for odor emission factors from animal confinement buildings. Odor emission data are needed as inputs for dispersion models so odor concentrations can be calculated for existing and future livestock and poultry operations, and utilized for the addition of control technologies on current operations and the siting and design of new facilities. This study supplemented the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study (NAEMS) by making comprehensive measurements, over a full calendar year, of odor emissions from four swine and four dairy buildings (subset of the total number of buildings monitored for the NAEMS project). Odor monitoring was not included in the NAEMS project because the EPA does not regulate it. The measurements made in this project included both standard human sensory measurements using dynamic forced-choice olfactometer and a novel chemical analysis technique for odorous compounds found in these emissions. The sensory and chemical methods have been correlated to gain both quantitative and qualitative understanding of odor emissions from animal buildings. KEYWORDS Odors, Olfactometry, Odorous Compounds, Volatile Organic Compounds INTRODUCTION Odor emission from animal production buildings is a critical local issue according to the National Research Council report to the livestock and poultry industries (NRC, 2003). Even though federal and some state agencies do not regulate odors, emission of odorous compounds remains a high priority for animal producers (for siting new and expanding existing operations) and for neighbors living near livestock and poultry operations. There is an urgent need for odor emission factors from animal confinement buildings since very limited data is presently available. Livestock and poultry producers in the United States are becoming increasingly concerned over the odors and gases that are generated and emitted from their animal operations. Odors and gas emissions from animal production sites are impacting producers in a variety of ways. Complaints from neighbors are increasing. Local units of government (counties and townships) have or are considering the establishment of setback requirements from rural residences and livestock operations to prevent odor and other nuisance complaints. State and federal regulatory agencies