COMMUNITY COMPLAINTS ABOUT ODORS IN DURBAN

The juxtaposition of industrial and residential areas in the city of D urban has caused many problems, of which the occurrence of bad odours is one. Odour patterns in the city are described, based on a limited s et of complaint data obtained from the local air pollution control off ice. Three distinct patterns emerged: one centred on an isolated indus try which produced a 'burnt toast' odour in an adjacent residential ar ea; the second related to a 'rotten cabbage' smell which was traced to a long-distance source, some 80 km away from the receptor area; the t hird was a complex mix of odours experienced in a highly industrialize d part of the city, the southern industrial corridor This last area wa s the focus of a preliminary survey conducted among 15 observers for a period of IO months. Smells peaked in January, with a secondary peak in June. Times of maximum complaint were between 18:00 and 22:00, and 07:00 and 09:00. Relative humidity was consistently higher on odour da ys than at other times. The most probable sources of odours were estab lished.