In recent years, concerns about the health risks of those living in the vicinity of livestock farms have increased considerably. Various scientific reports have been published on this subject. The existing studies, however, resulted in contradictory conclusions, so that there is as yet no consensus on a relationship between emissions from livestock farming and the health of local residents.

Odour problems remain a very important part in the number of environmental complaints that citizens make. Along with complaints about noise, smell is the main component of all registered complaints. This is also logical since both problems directly affect a sense that is continuously active. After all, we cannot simply switch off our hearing or our breathing - and the associated sense of smell.