Smell Detectives
Published Jul 28, 2017 ·
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Abstract
Before the germ theory of disease, urban dwellers placed great stock in odors—foul and fresh—as indicators of environmental health. This week on the Science podcast, historian Melanie Kiechle describes the rise and fall of the sense of smell in the 19th-century fight for fresh air.
Study Snapshot
Key takeawayThe sense of smell played a crucial role in the 19th-century fight for fresh air, as urban dwellers relied on odors to assess environmental health.
PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)
Sample size24
MethodsObservational
OutcomesBody Mass Index projections
ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.