Complaints that are within our jurisdiction when brought to the attention of the Health Department in Lee County , are recorded and investigated. When the complaint involves a sanitary nuisance or a potential health hazard to the public, follow-up action is carried out. In the event that the complaint does not come under the jurisdiction of this department, we will do our best to find the responsible authority or agency.

Our office investigates complaints regarding nuisances as defined in Florida Statute 386.041. A nuisance injurious to health is generally defined as:

• Untreated or improperly treated human waste, garbage, offal, dead animals, or dangerous waste materials from manufacturing processes, air pollutants, gasses, and noisome odors which are harmful to human or animal life.
• Improperly built or maintained septic tanks, water closets, or privies.
• Keeping diseased animals dangerous to human health.
• Unclean or filthy places where animals are slaughtered.
• Any condition capable of breeding flies, mosquitoes, or other arthropods capable of transmitting diseases to humans.
• Any act or condition which may cause disease.
  

Odors

Our office often receives complaints concerning odors. An odor is a chemical in the air that is “smelled” or sensed by our nose (olfactory system). Apples smell like apples due to the chemicals that create the apple odor. Odors, also called smells, can be both pleasant and unpleasant. Stench and stink are words typically used to describe unpleasant, foul odors. We breathe 10,000 to 20,000 liters of air a day, mostly through our noses. The olfactory system comes in contact with a different variety and concentration of chemical odors every day. Odors can alert people that something may be harmful, but generally, you can smell many chemicals before they are at levels that are harmful to your health. For example, we are able to smell hydrogen sulfide (H2S) (smells like rotten eggs) at very low levels; levels much lower than those at which this chemical can cause toxic health effects.

Sources of environmental odors:

Many products and activities in our daily lives produce odors. For instance, the foods we eat, our cleaning supplies, paints, carpet, gasoline, gardens, air fresheners, cut grass, old shoes, etc. all have odors.

Environmental odor sources include:

• agricultural practices (fertilizers/ pesticides)
• animal farms
• chemical manufacturing or handling facilities
• food processing plants
• landfills
• petroleum refineries
• wastewater treatment facilities
• wood treatment plants

Yes, certain groups of chemicals that produce odors are potentially harmful and can cause health problems. Some of these harmful chemicals are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act. Other environmental chemical odors may not be regulated under the Clean Air Act, thus making it very difficult to address and/or enforce nuisance odor-type complaints. Just because something smells bad does not mean it is harmful (example: rotten eggs). On the other hand, some dangerous and/or deadly chemicals can have a mild or sweet odor (benzene) or no odor at all (carbon monoxide). Health effects from exposure to chemical odors can be an immediate (acute) health threat, a long-term (chronic) threat, or may pose no health threat at all. Getting sick from chemical odors will depend on what you are exposed to, how much you were exposed to (dose), how long you were exposed (duration), how often you were exposed (frequency) and your individual sensitivity to the odor. The influence of odors on the health and comfort of individuals is difficult to evaluate. Odor sensitivity and response to odors differ from person to person. For some people who are more sensitive to odors, simply smelling a small amount of a foul odor can cause headaches and nausea (upset stomach). Sensitive populations include young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic health problems. People with chronic health problems include persons with asthma, emphysema and other respiratory diseases, persons with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), persons with depression, chemical hypersensitivity or stress-induced illness. The most common community health complaints resulting from exposure to odor-producing chemicals are:

Respiratory (breathing)

• upper respiratory
• scratchy throat
• lower respiratory
• coughing, wheezing
  

• watery, scratchy
  

• vomiting, diarrhea
  

• drowsiness, dizziness, headaches
  

• tachycardia (increased heart rate), increased blood pressure
  

• mood changes, behavioral changes
  

Odor facts:
In general:

• younger people are more sensitive to odors than older folks
• women are more sensitive to odors than men
• non-smokers are more sensitive to odors than smokers
• people with an empty stomach are more sensitive to odors than people who just ate
• people are more sensitive to odors in the morning than during the evening
  

• mood, level of alertness, levels of anxiety, levels of stress

• headaches, nausea, respiratory problems in asthma sufferers, neuromuscular control problems and causes seizures in epileptics

• positive, happy mood
• easier to learn/work
• easier to sleep
• more resistant to pain
• fewer headaches and stomach aches
  

• nausea
• headaches
• depression
• increased anxiety
• elevated blood pressure
• decrease in physical energy
• compromised immune system
• asthma attacks in asthma sufferers
• physical discomfort (aches & pains)
• increase in anger and stress levels
• muscular control problems, fatigue (tiredness), confusion.
  

Often it is hard to draw a distinct line between a nuisance odor problem and outright public health problem with physical symptoms in the impacted community. Unpleasant odors have often been recognized as “warning” signs of potential risks to human health rather than direct triggers of health effects. But we also know that odors from environmental sources might indeed cause health symptoms depending on the individual and specific environmental factors.

Each odor complaint/concern needs to be considered separately since they may differ widely in their nature and severity. While non-regulated chemical odors are not usually a significant public health hazard, the odors may, at times, be unpleasant and produce discomfort and temporary health symptoms.