Italian Town Employs Professional Sniffers to Combat Industrial Odors
The small Italian town of Brendola, located in the northern province of Vicenza, has launched an unusual recruitment campaign seeking six "odour evaluators" to help identify and trace sources of bad smells emanating from nearby industrial zones. Mayor Bruno Beltrame initiated this innovative program after receiving numerous complaints from residents about unpleasant odors affecting their neighborhoods.
Qualifications for the Unusual Position
The primary requirements for these paid positions include freedom from allergies or respiratory conditions like asthma, possession of a car and smartphone, and availability for training. Successful candidates will use a dedicated mobile application to record odor data during their assessments. A specialized firm in odor measurement will provide comprehensive training on distinguishing between various industrial smells, including those from factories, industrial waste, and sewage systems.
Once trained, the evaluators will be dispatched to targeted areas to conduct sensory assessments. When detecting unsavory odors, they will spend time analyzing the air before documenting their observations through the specialized app. The six-month initiative aims to pinpoint the exact origins of these industrial smells.
Building on Previous Investigations
"We conducted a similar investigation approximately five years ago in an industrial area near where the current odors are originating," explained Mayor Beltrame. "That previous effort successfully identified companies responsible for odor emissions. Now we're expanding our geographical scope to determine whether the same companies have resumed releasing bad smells or if different sources are involved."
Geographical Challenges in a Polluted Region
Vicenza falls within the expansive Po Valley, a vast geographical area spanning multiple provinces across Veneto, Piedmont, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna regions. This valley represents one of Europe's most severely polluted areas for air quality. "We're situated at the valley's end just before the Alpine foothills," Beltrame noted. "This makes our task particularly challenging because these areas are among Italy's most productive industrial zones, yet they also carry significant pollution risks."
The mayor emphasized that multiple province-wide initiatives continuously work to improve both air and water quality. "We have numerous protocols in place, and businesses violating regulations face substantial fines," he stated.
Growing Environmental Awareness Among Residents
Brendola's approximately 4,000 residents have demonstrated increasing commitment to environmental protection in recent years. "Whereas previously they might have been somewhat careless, today they show greater inclination toward improving their quality of life and surrounding environment," Beltrame observed. "When they encounter abandoned waste or detect foul air, they report it promptly. We appreciate this vigilance as it enables us to intervene quickly to prevent potentially more serious environmental problems."
Recruitment Challenges and Success
The local authority initially advertised these paid positions before Christmas but received no applications. "Perhaps because the advertisement appeared so close to the holidays, many potential candidates might have turned their noses up at the opportunity," Beltrame speculated humorously.
However, after reposting the advertisement on Facebook this week, approximately a dozen applicants came forward. "Most are university students with some spare hours around their studies, and they appear genuinely enthusiastic about participating," the mayor reported.
This innovative approach to environmental monitoring represents a creative response to persistent air quality challenges in one of Europe's most pollution-affected regions, combining traditional sensory assessment with modern technology to address industrial odor problems at their source.
