New Technology in Stink-o-Meters

Here are some of the newer technologies in odor testing.

CogniScent’s ScenTraK™ technology can identify and discriminate a broad range of unique odors with high levels of accuracy. ScenTraK™ detects for explosives, chemicals, biological matter including building molds, and industrial compounds found in manufacturing environments. ScenTraK™ technology can indicate a “hit” for target odors within 10 seconds of sampling while remaining on the job indefinitely. The system is portable, durable, accurate and cost effective, making it ideal for broad deployment to security agencies, first responder organizations, HAZMAT teams and environmental & industrial process engineers. Principal funding for the development of the ScenTraK™ core technology has been received from the Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA) and the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) to provide a lightweight autonomous chemical identification system.


The Nasal Ranger® Field Olfactometer is the “state-of-the-art” in field olfactometry for confidently measuring and quantifying odor strength in the ambient air. The Nasal Ranger® Field Olfactometer, a portable odor detecting and measuring device, determines ambient odor “Dilution-to-Threshold” (D/T) values objectively. Field olfactometry can be used as a proactive monitoring or enforcement tool for confident odor measurement at property lines and in the neighboring community. The Nasal Ranger® Field Olfactometer, as a nasal organoleptic instrument, provides field olfactometry with a scientific method for dependable ambient odor quantification. A Nasal Ranger® Field Olfactometer creates a calibrated series of discrete dilutions by mixing the odorous ambient air with odor-free (carbon) filtered air. Field olfactometry defines each discrete dilution level as a “Dilution-to-Threshold,” D/T, ratio. The “Dilution-to-Threshold” ratio is a measure of the number of dilutions needed to make the odorous ambient air “non-detectable”.


Stink-o-Meter. Is this what MDNR is using? If so, maybe we could hold a bake sale or something to raise funds for MDNR so they could upgrade their 'equipment'.

Odor Complaints Since 1/1/2002

Here are the number of complaints logged into the Missouri Department of Natural Resources(MDNR) system, since 1/1/2002 (for Carthage, MO). I think that the numbers speak for themselves. Perhaps the fines for polluting industries should be based on the number of complaints. It just seems fair that the polluters pay for all of the time MDNR spends responding to complaints, doesn't it?

Renewable Environmental Solutions 2002-0, 2003-0, 2004-18, 2005-429, 2006-188, 2007-6
Carthage Bottoms 2002-0, 2003-0, 2004-0, 2005-48, 2006-14, 2007-0
Butterball Turkey 2002-3, 2003-2, 2004-6, 2005-1, 2006-1, 2007-0
Conagra Foods 2002-0, 2003-0, 2004-15, 2005-6, 2006-2, 2007-0

Who Stinks? I'd say that it's pretty obvious Mr. Appel!

MDNR Complaints since 1/1/2002

"We Don't Emit an Odor"

I can't tell whether Brian S. Appel, Chairman and CEO, Changing World Technologies, was describing a dream or a goal, but to characterize his company, Renewable Environmental Solutions LLC (RES) as not stinking, is a laugh. He forgot that he wasn't in West Hempstead, New York anymore, but instead in the SHOW ME state. The Joplin Globe, Tuesday, March 20, 2007, reported that even Carthage Mayor Jim Woestman couldn't believe what Appel said. "You do have an odor issue, and I don't know how anyone could say otherwise", Jim Woestman.
Now we know where RES's history of denial originates, Who Stinks, not me. The Chairman and CEO, Brian S. Appel, instead of taking responsibility, claims that odors are coming from other plants in the area where RES is located.

The Carthage Press, Tuesday, March 20, 2007 also reported on the conversation between journalists, City of Carthage and Jasper County officials. Jasper County Commissioner Jim Honey is quoted as saying, "There are times in this office you can't even stand it. It wasn't that way before."

If you would like to share your opinion as to who stinks, I would invite you to contact Mr. Brian S. Appel, Changing World Technologies, 406 W. Hempsted Avenue, West Hempstead, NY. 11555, 516-468-0100, or www.changingworldtech.com. [Click on the Google Earth map for a close up of their corporate offices]

"Waste Going In and Worse Coming Out"

"Waste going in and worse coming out" is how Carthage City Mayor, Jim Woestman described the odors that are associated with Renewable Environmental Solutions LLC (RES) operations. Mayor Woestman was in Jefferson City supporting House Bill 966, introduced by Rep. Steve Hunter R-Joplin, that the bill “would allow the DNR to crack down on repeat offenders that deprive my community and others of our clean air and water without the cumbersome and ineffective steps that DNR must perform now,” James R. Carter, of Neosho wrote. “My experience with DNR suggests that this will only be used in extreme cases, as it should be.” The Joplin Globe, Thursday, March 15, 2007.

Odor is Frustrating

The Carthage Press, Thursday, March 8, 2007, reports in an article titled, DNR: RES Odor is 'frustrating' quotes Camille Dobler, Environmental Specialist with Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) "I know last night was legitimate. It was frustrating for us. The odor was strong". The article goes on to say that the odor was prevalant earlier in the day at the courthouse and other city locations.

The Joplin Globe, Thursday March 8, 2007, reports that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) received 16 complaints about Carthage odors in the last two days, a spokesman for the regulatory agency said, but RES was not issued a notice of violation.

My Quesion, why didn't Camille and MDNR environmental specialist George Parson, go bang on the door of RES, and tell them to stop what they're doing, instead of just standing around trying to get a sample in their defective stink-o-meter? What's wrong with this picture, when even Missouri Department of Natural Resource personnel smell (with their own nose, and the complaints for others) that there is a problem, and then can't get their MDNR issued stink-o-meter to work? What's wrong with a citizen's arrest. I'm sure we could get ample witnesses in court to make a complaint stick (or stink). This is ridiculous.

On January 5, 2007, MDNR Director Childress told Carthage citizens that he hopes 'technological advancements made through the US Department of Homeland Security, may result in scent measuring tools better that the MDNR's current scent-o-meter.' OK, where is the new equipment?