Ontario's Ministry of the Environment is bringing in specialized equipment to define what stinks the most in Collingwood.

In three days of testing, the ministry will use its TAGA unit - the Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer, a mobile unit that looks like a bus but which can quickly isolate and identify individual odour sources.

"Some of the scientists are conducting the monitoring themselves to address the ongoing concerns about noise and odour. They'll be monitoring the air quality over a wide range of times," said MOE regional communications advisor Charlotte Wilkinson.

"The TAGA unit can produce very accurate, real-time measures. It's the most advanced air-monitoring system in the world."

Testing began in June and in July, the environment ministry confirmed what the public had been saying: the area near Collingwood Ethanol stinks. Samples take on June 3, 11, 20 and 26 revealed emissions as high as 116 odour units; the acceptable limit is one odour unit.

Technical team leader Ernie Hartt added on both June 11 and 20, the Canadian Mist distillery was not operating; the peak 116 level was reached on June 11.

"The bottom line is we have determined there is adverse odour impact in these areas, as a result of the operations between these two facilities, and on two days, it was directly related to one," Hartt said of the ethanol refinery.

Hartt said further work was needed to determine what chemicals or compounds were most offensive.

The TAGA unit will enable the scientists to capture individual levels and determine the source of the most-offensive elements or byproducts. A comprehensive final report is expected in two months.

"The Ministry of the Environment understands the odours are not acceptable to the community and this will be antoher step to get it resolved," she said.