Concentration and Emissions of Ammonia and Particulate Matter in Tunnel–ventilated Broiler Houses Under Summer Conditions in Texas

Abstract

Total suspended particulate (TSP) concentrations, ammonia (NH 3) concentrations, and ventilation rates were measured in four commercial, tunnel-ventilated broiler houses in June through December of 2000 in Brazos County, Texas. TSP and NH 3 concentrations ranged from 7,387 to 11,387 mg m-3 and 2.02 to 45 ppm, respectively. Ammonia concentration exhibited a correlation with the age of the birds. Mass median diameters (MMD) of the TSP samples were between 24.0 and 26.7 mm aerodynamic equivalent diameter. MMD increased with bird age. The mass fraction of PM 10 in the TSP samples was between 2.72% and 8.40% with a mean of 5.94%. Ventilation rates were measured between 0.58 and 89 m 3 s-1. Measured concentrations of PM 10 and ammonia were multiplied by the measured ventilation rates to calculate emission rates for PM 10 and ammonia. Ammonia emission rates varied from 38 to 2105 g hr-1. TSP emission rates and PM 10 emission rates ranged from 7.0 to 1673 g hr-1 and 0.58 to 99 g hr-1 , respectively. Emission rates for ammonia and particulate matter increased with the age of the birds. Most of the PM in the commercial broiler houses was large enough to be captured by the human or poultry respiratory system prior to being inhaled into the lungs.

Air contaminants in animal production: the poultry case

“…A study developed in Texas [23] reported concentrations for PM10 ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 mg/m 3 . Our results showed higher concentrations in particles of these sizes probably due to the lower ventilation rates detected in our poultry facilities.…”

Air-Polluted with Particulate Matters from Livestock Buildings

“…Thus, the ventilation systems have direct effects on the spatial dust concentration whereas the increase of the ventilation rate will not necessarily reduce the overall dust level effectivel because the dust production rate will increase with increasing ventilation (Pedersen et al 2000). A comparative study of respirable dust concentration between European countries and the state of Texas in the USA has been presented by Redwine et al (2002). The dust Air Quality -New Perspective 292 concentration in European countries ranges in the literature from 0.4 to 9.7 mg.m -3 , on the other side, it ranges from 0.1 to 0.3 mg.m -3 in Texas, which is slightly less than comparable data from European studies.…”

Control of particulate matter emissions from poultry and pig houses

“…Bird age has a positive relationship with PM concentrations and emissions rates (Redwine et al, 2002). Hinz and Linke (1998b) determined PM concentrations increased linearly with broilers live weight.…”

“…Because of higher ventilation rates in summer compared with winter, low PM concentrations and high emission rates can be expected in the summer, whereas high PM concentrations and low emission rates can be expected in winter (Hinz and Linke, 1998b;Redwine et al, 2002). In a layer house, total and respirable PM formation rates were higher during hot weather ventilation rates, than during cold weather ventilation rates for total and respirable PM, because of an increased turbulence and suspension of PM .…”

“…In broilers, however, most studies were conducted under 24-hour lighting programs (Hinz and Linke, 1998a;Redwine et al, 2002;Wathes et al, 1997), which have almost disappeared nowadays. In broilers with intermittent lighting programs, there appears to be a strong relationship between the lighting program, animal activity and the concentration of PM, as determined by when assessing PM10 concentrations in relation to measured bird activity through an activity bird index (Figure 2.5).…”