Correspondences between olfactometry, analytical and electronic nose data for 10 indoor paints
Résumé
Odour characterization is necessary to evaluate perceived indoor air quality. Electronic nose technology seems interesting face to timeconsuming sensory analysis with trained panels. In order to understand what type of information is processed by the sensors, their response to 10 paints frequently used indoors were compared to the odor intensity evaluated by 13 trained panelists (olfactory matching method) and the analytical composition of the samples. Significant differences among individuals were found, whereas sensors display strong redundancy. Interaction of irritating sensation with olfaction was observed. Analytical and sensor responses do not take into account the multidimensionality of olfactory information. However, similitudes between some sensors and individuals have been found. The necessity of sensor technology hybridization arises in order to take into account the totality of sensory information, as well as the need to integrate more sensitive systems based on mass spectrometry.