In a quirky yet practical move, the small Italian town of Brendola is on the hunt for people with keen noses to tackle a persistent pollution problem. Mayor Bruno Beltrame announced a recruitment drive for six ‘odor evaluators’ to help pinpoint sources of foul smells plaguing the industrial zone nearby.
Residents have long complained about noxious odors wafting from factories and waste sites. To address this, the local administration is seeking volunteers aged 18 and above, free from respiratory issues like asthma or allergies, and equipped with a car and smartphone. Successful candidates will undergo rigorous testing of their smelling abilities before receiving specialized training.
Under the guidance of experts in odor measurement, these sniffers will patrol designated areas, inhaling deeply to assess air quality. They’ll log their sensory experiences via a dedicated app, helping authorities map out pollution hotspots. ‘We’ve done this before,’ Beltrame explained. ‘Five years ago, similar efforts identified offending companies. Now, we’re expanding to see if the same culprits are at it again or if new ones have joined in.’
Brendola, home to about 4,000 people in Veneto’s Vicenza province, sits in the notoriously polluted Po Valley. This region, spanning multiple Italian areas, ranks among Europe’s worst for air quality. The mayor praised locals for their growing environmental awareness, noting how reports of dumped waste and bad smells enable swift action.
Initial calls for applicants before Christmas drew little interest, but a fresh Facebook ad this week sparked a dozen responses. As efforts to improve air and water quality intensify across the state, heavy fines await businesses flouting rules. Brendola’s sniffers could be the nose that breaks the back of local pollution.