Public dossier The risks The strongest evidence is nuisance
Health: what the evidence says
The strongest evidence is on odour nuisance and its effect on quality of life. Evidence of direct toxic harm to neighbours during normal operation is weak.
We want to be rigorous: one exaggerated number does more harm than ten missing ones. This is what research shows, and what it does not.
What is well established
- Odour is a nuisance and affects quality of life. In a review of 30 studies on industrial odour pollution, exposed residents had more headaches and more cough with phlegm; nausea was not significant. The authors themselves rate the evidence as limited, with a high risk of bias.
- Near livestock farms in the Netherlands, odour annoyance was associated with poorer perceived health and more respiratory, gastrointestinal and stress symptoms; this is an association, not proof of cause.
What is poorly documented
- A French research project says the health risk for workers and neighbours of these installations is "very poorly documented".
- The same researchers note that neighbours link odours to health risks "often erroneously". We quote this for honesty.
Where the risk is serious
Hydrogen sulphide in raw biogas can kill at high concentrations, but that risk is mainly to workers and drivers, and to neighbours only in major accidents.
What we do not claim
We found no evidence that a biomethane plant in normal operation causes cancer or serious disease in its neighbours, so we do not claim it.
- Air and odours
- Water
- Soil
- Traffic and noise
- Leaks, fires and explosions
- House values
- Health: what the evidence says
Sources on this page
- Guadalupe-Fernandez et al. (2021), Environmental Health 20: 108: poluição industrial por odores e saúde, revisão sistemática e meta-análise
- Bayle et al. (2016), Chemical Engineering Transactions, vol. 54: projeto EMAMET sobre emissões de unidades de metanização
- Hooiveld et al. (2015), Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 22(1): 55–61: incómodo por odores junto a explorações pecuárias e saúde percebida
- Bayle et al. (2018), Chemical Engineering Transactions, vol. 68, pp. 79–84: emissões de odor em três unidades de metanização em França
- Informationspapier zur Sicherheit bei Biogasanlagen
- Scénarios accidentels et modélisation des distances d'effets associées pour des installations de méthanisation de taille agricole et industrielle (rapport Ineris-201652-2437679-v2.0)
[1] Peer-reviewed paper
Guadalupe-Fernandez et al. (2021), Environmental Health 20: 108: poluição industrial por odores e saúde, revisão sistemática e meta-análise
[2] Peer-reviewed paper
Bayle et al. (2016), Chemical Engineering Transactions, vol. 54: projeto EMAMET sobre emissões de unidades de metanização
[3] Peer-reviewed paper
Hooiveld et al. (2015), Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 22(1): 55–61: incómodo por odores junto a explorações pecuárias e saúde percebida
[4] Peer-reviewed paper
Bayle et al. (2018), Chemical Engineering Transactions, vol. 68, pp. 79–84: emissões de odor em três unidades de metanização em França
[5] Public body
Informationspapier zur Sicherheit bei Biogasanlagen
[6] Public body