Olfactory fatigue is defined as?

Olfactory fatigue is defined as?

• A. A permanent loss of smell after exposure.
• B. An increased sensitivity to odors after exposure.
• C. A condition where the sense of smell diminishes after exposure to a specific odor.
• D. An ability to smell only at high concentrations.

Answer: (C)

Olfactory fatigue comes from sensory adaptation in the nose. When you’re exposed to a specific odor for a period, the olfactory receptor cells become less responsive, so the perceived intensity of that odor diminishes. This change is temporary and reversible—once the odor exposure ends and enough time passes, sensitivity returns. It’s not a permanent loss, nor an increased sensitivity, and it isn’t about needing higher concentrations to smell something. For example, you might enter a room with a strong perfume and stop noticing it after a few minutes, although it’s still present. In hazmat work, this means relying on instruments and other detection methods in addition to odor, since your sense of smell can fade with continuous exposure.

Olfactory fatigue comes from sensory adaptation in the nose. When you’re exposed to a specific odor for a period, the olfactory receptor cells become less responsive, so the perceived intensity of that odor diminishes. This change is temporary and reversible—once the odor exposure ends and enough time passes, sensitivity returns. It’s not a permanent loss, nor an increased sensitivity, and it isn’t about needing higher concentrations to smell something. For example, you might enter a room with a strong perfume and stop noticing it after a few minutes, although it’s still present. In hazmat work, this means relying on instruments and other detection methods in addition to odor, since your sense of smell can fade with continuous exposure.