The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of odor and to examine the application method of the odor emission standard in a restaurant environment. The complex odor dilution concentrations (“times”) and odor compounds were measured in 8 restaurants. The highest complex odor dilution times were 966 in outlets and 97 in site boundaries of C restaurants. The average complex odor dilution times were 632 in outlets and 29 in site boundaries, which exceeded the allowable odor discharge standard of residential areas. Eighteen of the 22 specified offensive odor substances were detected. Aldehyde-type substances showed high concentrations, and the highest concentration of ethanol was detected in addition to the designated odorous substances. Dichloromethane, benzene, and phenol, which are harmful air pollutants, were also detected. The odorant concentrations of restaurants were found to exceed the odor standard threshold in A, B, and F restaurants. Upon review of the Japanese-style odor index respective to restaurant odor, it is difficult to apply an equivalent emission allowance standard as the permissible emission standard of the workplace. It is necessary to regulate emission standards by different emission standards. In the future, it will be necessary to determine how to measure the odor index and how to apply the odor emission standard to everyday facilities, such as restaurants, grocery stores, etc.

The study analyzed performance assessment factors of VOCs odor sensors from 3 different manufacturers, such as minimum detection limit, humidity stability and temperature stability. Through the minimum detection limit assessment, it was found that a VOCs sensor was able to detect TVOCs at the concentration of 5 ppb. The standard deviation ratio was over 10%, and it increased as humidity rose. The range of temperatures in which the VOCs odor sensor using photoionization could operate was between 25oC and 40oC, and the sensor output values were unstable at low temperatures. In terms of the temperature stability of the metal oxide semiconductor sensor for measuring complex odors, the sensor output values dropped considerably to 0~10oC, and were similar to the concentrations of odorous gases generated at 25oC. The results of the test of VOCs odor sensor outputs after temperature and humidity pre-treatment revealed that the respective stable output values at 50% humidity and 25oC were similar to the concentrations of manufactured odors. In terms of temperature and humidity stability of the VOCs odor sensors, all target VOCs substances had stable output values at 25oC to 40oC and at 50% to 65% relative humidities, and unstable values at low temperatures and high humidities. Therefore, the implementation of pre-treatment systems including temperature and humidity correction (25~40oC, 50~65% RH) is required for the stable use of VOCs odor sensors.