AIHA Connect University Live Online PDC: Odor Thresholds in Practice: Tools, Science, and Case Studies for IH/OEHS Professionals

Earn 3.5 Contact Hours

Standard Pricing: Member $295 | Nonmember $395 | Student $295

Odor complaints are among the most frequent and challenging issues faced by industrial hygiene and occupational/environmental health and safety (IH/OEHS) professionals. Yet, the science behind odor detection, threshold values, and their practical application is often misunderstood or overlooked. This Virtual PDC demystifies odor threshold book values and equips participants with the knowledge and tools to confidently address odor concerns in the workplace.

Through a comprehensive exploration of odor detection technology, terminology, and the influence of individual factors—such as age, smoking, and health conditions—participants will learn how to interpret and apply odor threshold data. The course clarifies the roles of the olfactory and trigeminal systems, and explains how chemical structure relates to odor characteristics and detection limits.

Attendees will receive hands-on training with the AIHA odor detection and nasal pungency threshold estimation tool, including live demonstrations and interactive exercises. Practical case studies will guide participants through the methodology of evaluating odor complaints, enabling them to resolve real-world challenges and communicate findings effectively.

Registrants will be provided with a PDF version of the AIHA Odor Thresholds for Chemicals, 4th Edition.

Learning Objectives

After this online PDC, participants will be able to:

• Identify and define key technologies and terminology in odor detection, and explain how individual factors impact odor perception thresholds.
• Analyze the roles of the olfactory and trigeminal systems, and evaluate the relationship between chemical structure and odor detection thresholds.
• Demonstrate practical use of the AIHA odor detection and nasal pungency threshold estimation tool in workplace scenarios.
• Apply systematic methodologies to evaluate and resolve odor complaints using case studies and best practices.

Schedule (Eastern Time)

• 12:00 PM – Course Starts
• TBD – 15-minute Break
• 3:45 PM – Course Concludes

Presenters

Cheryl Marcham, PhD, CSP, CIH, CHMM, FAIHA
Cheryl L. (Cheri) Marcham is an Associate Professor and Program Chair for the Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management in the Worldwide Online Campus for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She was previously the Environmental Health and Safety Officer for a major university for over 26 years. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Arizona State University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Department of Occupational and Environmental Health. She has served on the board of directors of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, the Board for Global EHS Credentialing (formerly ABIH), and is currently the Vice President for AIHA.

David Krause, PhD, MSPH, CIH
Dr. David Krause is the founder of Healthcare Consulting and Contracting (HC3) in Tallahassee, Florida. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist and Toxicologist, with 30 years of experience in public health, occupational hazard assessments, and indoor air quality. David is a nationally recognized expert in assessing the risk of exposure to pathogens and hazardous chemicals. Dr. Krause has authored, co-authored and edited numerous guidelines on the assessment of Legionella sources for Industrial Hygienists and Environmental Health Professionals. As a member of the ACGIH Bioaerosols Committee and past chair of the AIHA Indoor Environmental Quality Committee Dr. Krause authored authoritative references on the remediation of mold and bacteria from buildings and their water systems. He has published research on novel control methods to prevent Legionella in building water systems. By reducing dissolved oxygen in drinking water Dr. Krause has demonstrated that Legionella growth can be prevented without using toxic disinfectants or producing carcinogenic byproducts. In 2021 he was awarded a patent for the system to control Legionella and other waterborne pathogens by reducing dissolved oxygen levels. David completed a Masters of Science in Public Health and Doctorate at the University of South Florida where he researched the toxic impacts of indoor candle combustion and mold growth on building materials. He has practiced as both a public health official for the State of Florida's Department of Health and as a private consultant throughout his career. His interest in the biological mechanisms of odor perception and how certain indoor air contaminants cause upper airway irritation via the trigeminal nerve led to his involvement on the odor thresholds guide.

Patrick Owens, CIH, CSP
Patrick has worked in the petroleum refining industry providing industrial hygiene support for more than 35 years. He has experience in health risk assessment, exposure monitoring, emergency response planning, and fire safety. Currently, he supports the Martinez Refinery as the Industrial Hygienist. Patrick also participates on the California OSHA Health Effects Advisory Committee, Northern California local section of AIHA®, AIHA® Oil & Gas Working Group, and Real-Time Detection Systems Committee. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology from Southeastern Louisiana University and a Master of Science in Public Health from Tulane University.

Alex Lehocky, MS, CIH
Alex Lehocky (La-hock-ee) is the past Director of Environmental Health and Safety. He serves as the Coordinator of Occupational Health and Fire Safety with the responsibility for day-to-day oversight of related programs which are aimed at ensuring a safe teaching, learning, and working environment for Kennesaw State University (KSU) students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Before joining KSU, Alex worked in the Office of Real Estate and Facilities within the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia Central Office and served as the Program Manager for Environmental & Occupational Safety within the Compliance and Operations Group. He provided leadership to all the University System of Georgia institutions on environmental compliance, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, and due diligence issues. Alex also served as a senior industrial hygienist at Vanderbilt University and Medical Center and worked for two Fortune 100 companies in various roles out of graduate school. Alex has thirty years of progressive technical and leadership experience in industry, higher education, and consulting. His experiences include regulatory compliance, remediation, exposure assessment, risk assessment, indoor air quality, permitting, development of hazardous chemical SOPs, auditing, respiratory protection, ventilation, training, and project management. Alex has a professional Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Health from the University of Georgia and maintains the designation of a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). In addition, he is actively involved with a variety of local, state, and national professional groups. Alex founded the only all volunteer private state safety conference in the country in 2013 and it has become a premier conference in the southeast for environmental, safety, health, and human resources/risk management.

**This live event will be administered in our LMS through zoom meeting. Please view our FAQ for additional information.**