A public health inquiry has found "highly offensive" odours from waste industrial areas in Ipswich, west of Brisbane, have impacted the health and wellbeing of thousands of residents.

But the probe has also concluded there is no evidence of an increased risk of cancer in the populations exposed to the smells.

The inquiry, which was headed up by former Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard, was established by the state government earlier this year.

It was tasked with investigating the health effects of the odours from the Swanbank and New Chum industrial estates and recommending actions to mitigate their impacts.

The inquiry's report warned planned residential growth in the area would exacerbate the problem further in the coming years.

"The most common symptoms attributed to the

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