New Frontiers in Measurement and Control: Analytical Technologies for Air Quality, Odor Monitoring, and Pharmaceutical Safety

Event organized by the Interprovincial Order of Chemists and Physicists of Emilia-Romagna

The Interprovincial Order of Chemists and Physicists of Emilia-Romagna is a non-economic public body acting as an auxiliary body of the State, representing registered professional Chemists and Physicists across the provinces of Bologna, Ferrara, Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, and Rimini. The Order promotes quality and integrity in professional practice, safeguards the profession, and drives continuous professional development and training for its members.

Event Overview

The event is divided into three distinct sessions:

1) New Frontiers in Air Quality Assessment: Estimation and Forecasting Methodologies for Odor Impacts.
Odor emissions represent an increasingly prominent environmental issue, impacting both public quality of life and presenting complex characterization challenges. Managing odor impacts demands a multidisciplinary approach bridging regulatory framework awareness, sampling methodologies, analytical techniques, and predictive tools. This session provides professionals with operational, up-to-date knowledge on key tools used to evaluate atmospheric odor emissions. Topics covered include:

• Regulatory frameworks and fundamental aspects of human odor perception physiology
• Sampling methods and core analytical techniques: chemical analysis, GC-O-MS (Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry-Mass Spectrometry), dynamic olfactometry, field inspections, and electronic noses (e-noses).
• Dispersion modeling tools for predicting odor impacts, peak concentration estimation, and considerations for environmental permitting procedures.

Objective: Enhance participants' ability to interpret technical reports and data, supporting informed decision-making in regional odor management.

2) Instrumental Odor Measurement Technology and Reference Standards.
Continuous monitoring of odor emissions is a growing area in air quality assessment, driven by advancing sensor technology and dedicated instrumentation. This session explores available instruments for odor detection and real-time monitoring, including:

• Sensor technologies for gas detection, examining their application potential and limitations.
• Continuous monitoring via Instrumental Odor Monitoring Systems (IOMS).
• Regulatory standards and performance evaluation pursuant to the UNI 11761:2023 technical standard.
• A deep dive into the IOMS MSEM 3200 system, covering functional features and operational procedures.

Objective: Deliver actionable, current technical knowledge directly applicable to professional field practices.

3) Trace Nitrite Analysis in Excipients for Nitrosamine Risk Assessment in Pharmaceuticals.
Trace nitrites in pharmaceutical excipients have become a critical focus in drug quality control and safety. Under specific conditions, nitrites can act as precursors to nitrosamines—a class of impurities closely scrutinized by regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical industry. This session addresses:

• The role of nitrite quantification in excipients as a core component of risk assessment strategies.
• Key analytical challenges when measuring ultra-low concentrations: method sensitivity, selectivity, sample preparation, and matrix interference management.
• Contextualizing nitrite data within broader nitrosamine risk management, raw material characterization, and pharmaceutical process control.

Objective: Connect analytical data on nitrites with regulatory compliance, safety, and holistic nitrosamine risk management across drug manufacturing.

Program

 The event will be held in Italian

 English translation available (see below)