Regarding your “River-delta stink” story: The two-part study pitted the human nose against the use of electronic e-noses capable of measuring the intensity of an odor and its source. The report notes that, of the 15 volunteers (not 11 as the Herald reported) who lent their noses to the study, only three people registered nearly 80 percent of the odor observations. Just how much do we know about those three people and what biases if any they may have brought to the study?
When it came to the scientific portion of the study, the e-noses reported none of the emissions from Cedar Grove that reached Marysville were at a level where odors are discernible. In fact, readings in downtown Marysville showed readings for the sewage treatment plant were six times higher than Cedar Grove’s highest reading!
The use of science to determine the source and intensity of odors is a major breakthrough that will allow for better and more even-handed enforcement by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
Marysville citizens have a right to know the truth about the sources of odors. The air agency and the city need to embrace the use of e-noses because they will always get more accurate answers from science than the subjective noses they have relied upon in the past.
Karen Dawson
Director of community relations
Cedar Grove
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
