Strong stomach needed: the world's dirtiest occupations
Animal semen collection
The sperm of top-quality livestock fetch a high price in breeder's circles, but it's not like a prize bull can walk into a private room with a Playboy in hand and deliver the goods. They need a little helping hand.
The collector responsible for vigorously man-handling Cuddles, the endangered African elephant at Dubbo zoo, could leave work knowing he performed a noble deed.
Crime-scene cleaning
If the thought of cleaning up a Tarantino movie set appeals to you, then so may the business of crime-scene cleaning. The work involves decontaminating trauma and crime scenes ranging from violent deaths to chemically contaminated methamphetamine labs or anthrax-exposure sites.
It can take 10 people almost two weeks to finish a job. Blood can seep through carpet or even through floors to sub-floors. While a strong stomach is essential the remuneration is ample.
Odour judge
If you're nosing around for a new job then get a whiff of this. Odour judges are employed to test the effectiveness of products designed to reduce, mask, or eliminate smells; armpit specialists work for deodorant companies, sniffing up to 60 armpits an hour.
Menus of distaste
According to Gourmet magazine, disgusting food is the new cool. The gross-out factor is a drawcard that a hotel in Dawson City, Yukon, has been exploiting since the 1970s when they began serving the "Sourtoe" - a cocktail replete with an entire mummified toe. Their toe-hold (ahem) in the industry took a dive this year when a tourist swallowed the famous appendage in a single gulp of whiskey. While dutifully paying the $500 surcharge for the privilege, the bar is now advertising on its website for a replacement toe.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The article calls out several revolting or distasteful occupations, including sewerage cleaners in India, animal semen collectors (including work with prized livestock and an elephant at Dubbo zoo), crime‑scene cleaners who decontaminate trauma sites and meth labs, odour judges who sniff armpits for deodorant testing, and hospitality stunts like the Sourtoe cocktail in Dawson City.
According to the article, some of these niche roles can be lucrative: crime‑scene cleaning is described as offering ample remuneration, and the sperm of top‑quality livestock fetches high prices in breeder circles. The Sourtoe cocktail also generated revenue via a reported $500 surcharge on the novelty drink.
The article notes crime‑scene cleaning can involve decontaminating violent deaths, chemically contaminated methamphetamine labs and even anthrax‑exposure sites. Jobs can be labor‑intensive (it can take about 10 people almost two weeks) and messy, with blood seeping through carpets and floors—so health, safety and specialist equipment are key operational challenges.
The article explains that semen from top‑quality livestock commands high prices for breeders, and collection often requires skilled, hands‑on assistance—sometimes even for endangered animals (the example of an elephant at Dubbo zoo is given). This specialised service supports high‑value breeding programs.
Odour judges are hired to test the effectiveness of products meant to reduce, mask or eliminate smells. The article mentions armpit specialists working for deodorant companies who may sniff up to 60 armpits an hour to evaluate product performance—an example of specialised sensory testing within personal‑care R&D.
The Sourtoe cocktail, served by a hotel in Dawson City, Yukon, famously contains a mummified toe. The novelty has been a gross‑out draw since the 1970s; the article notes the bar charged a $500 surcharge and had to advertise for a replacement toe after a tourist swallowed the original—illustrating how shock‑value attractions can create revenue and publicity.
The article cites Gourmet magazine and the Dawson City example to show that disgusting or shocking food and drink can be a drawcard. Long‑running novelty offerings like the Sourtoe cocktail suggest the gross‑out factor can attract attention, customers and surcharge revenue when managed as a deliberate tourism or marketing tactic.
Based on the article, investors should note that niche unpleasant services can command premium prices (high‑value livestock semen, ample crime‑scene pay, novelty surcharges), but they also involve operational challenges such as specialized labor, intensive timeframes, and serious health or contamination risks that affect costs and operations.
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