The Profile of Mood States (POMS) was used to determine the effect of environmental odors caused by intensive hogs operations on the mood of nearby residents. 44 experimental subjects rated their mood using a POMS questionnaire and their rating of six POMS factors and the total mood disturbance (TMD) was compared to the ones of 44 control subjects. Gender, race, age and years of education were considered in order to have control and experimental subjects that could be compared. The results showed that when comparing the six POMS factors and the TMD, statistically significant differences were obtained between the experimental group and the control. Consulting the POMS questionnaire the results showed that the persons leaving closer to the swine facilities experienced the odors reported more tension, more depression, more anger, more confusion, more fatigue and less vigor than the control subjects. Mood disturbances were also reported more frequently by the treatment group. The mood impairment reported could be partly explained by both innate physiological responses and learned responses.
The effects of odors on nearby residents of commercial swine operations are presented following a study on profile of mood states. It is important to better understand the human reactions to odors and also to evaluate and verify the consequence of odors exposure on health and well being of swine operations neighbors. Odor thresholds associated with the those reactions could be help define zoning or odor abatement systems for specific situations.