Smell reports reveal the need to expand urban air quality monitoring, say researchers

Ever wondered if your neighborhood odor could be impacting your health? University of British Columbia researchers have uncovered surprising insights into the Vancouver region's "smellscape" using data from the Smell Vancouver app. Analyzing 549 reports from one year of app data, they discovered that "rotten" and "chemical" odors dominated, making up about 65% of submissions. These unpleasant smells were linked to self-reported health issues like headaches and anxiety, leading some residents to change their behaviors, like closing windows even in stifling-hot weather.