How to Detect Chemical Odors in the Air

Every scent a human detects is the direct result of a chemical odor. Chemicals in the air are inhaled, and sense receptors in the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptors, absorb those chemicals. The receptors then transfer the information on the odor to the brain, which translates the message into a certain smell. Though many chemical odors can be easily detected simply through the human sense of smell, some are so faint they are not easily detected.

Things You'll Need

• Activated carbon air purifier
• Sniffer dog or pet
• Nasal passage cleanser

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Instructions

• 1

  Walk to various areas of your home, building or area and smell the air. Often, you can tell if there are chemical odors, such as sulfur or ammonia, present simply by inhaling. If you do notice a chemical smell, do not continue to inhale deeply, as this could cause damage to your olfactory receptors, throat or your lungs. Instead, vacate the area as soon as possible and contact poison control.

• 2

  Pay attention to tastes, which are closely related to olfactory senses. If, while talking, eating or yawning, you notice a strange taste in your mouth, you may be detecting chemical odors and should evacuate the area and resist breathing in or ingesting the chemicals in the air until you are sure of what is causing the odorous particles and whether it is harmful to you.

• 3

  Place an activated carbon air purifier into a room or, if your property is large, many rooms of your home, office or personal area and turn the purifier on. The purifier will help remove many kinds of odorous chemicals in the air.

• 4

  Monitor your pets for odd behavior such as barking, sneezing, lethargy or hyperactivity; if you do not have pets, hire a sniffer dog. Dogs have much stronger senses of smell than do humans and may notice chemical odors in the air that humans cannot sense. Sniffer dogs are trained to investigate and report to their trainers if they discover chemical odors.

• 5

  Clear your nasal passages using a nasal decongestant, purifier or allergy reliever. A clear nasal passage increases the chances of detecting chemical odors with your olfactory receptors.