[Smell threshold levels of substances as a criterion for evaluating the maximum permissible exposure levels].

Compared in the paper are the threshold limit values (TLV) and odour threshold concentrations (OTC) of 85 substances. As so far the generally accepted methods of odour nuisance measurements have been missing; the TLV/OTC ratio was adopted as a criterion of possible appearance of odour discomfort. The substances were divided into groups according to their feasibility of odorous nuisance. It was demonstrated that the odour discomfort might appear even with concentrations below TLVs. This particularly refers to styrene, naphthalene, CS2, pyridine and H2S.