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Specific anosmia to trimethylamine: The fishy primary odor

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Abstract

About 7% of human subjects are specifically anosmic to the odor of trimethylamine. Odor threshold measurements on 16 aliphatic amines were made with panels of specific anosmics and normal observers. The anosmia is most pronounced with low-molecular-weight tertiary amines, but is also observed in lesser degree with primary and secondary amines. It is suggested that this specific anosmia corresponds with the absence of a new olfactory primary, the “fishy” odor. Trimethylamine has been reported to occur in human menstrual blood and in the anal gland of the red fox, implying some pheromonal function.

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Amoore, J.E., Forrester, L.J. Specific anosmia to trimethylamine: The fishy primary odor. J Chem Ecol 2, 49–56 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988023

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988023

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