ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT EVALUATION OF ODOR DISPERSION EMITTED FROM PIG FARMS: A CASE STUDY FROM ALBAN, CUNDINAMARCA, COLOMBIA

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determinate the environmental impacts generated by the offensive odors coming from pig farming in the Alban municipality, located in Cundinamarca, Colombia. The main objective was to propose guidelines for the elaboration of a Plan for Offensive Odor Impact Reduction for the pig farms of the municipality. Initially an environmental impact evaluation was carried out. Then the application of the protocols established in Colombian regulations: NTC 6012-1 and Resolution 1543 of 2013 of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADS) resulted in a relevant impact on the air quality. This was ratified in the developed psychometric analysis that allowed us to identify a particular nuisance of offensive odors in the village of Pantanillo within the sector located on the right side of the road that communicates Albán and Guayabal de Siquima, taking into account that among the results obtained within the psychometric analysis the perception by odor level showed values between “Strong” (35.0%) and “Very strong”, (20.0%) for the possible affected zone, while in the control area C, 72% considered it “very faint” and “no odor”, finally proposing guidelines for the development of a program of reduction of offensive odors that fits the type of population existing in the study area and allow a reduction in the discomfort by offensive odors.