Effects of different ammonia emission reduction strategies from livestock farming on ambient ammonia concentrations in nature areas: a series of scenario analyses

Ambient ammonia monitoring using Ogawa passive samplers was conducted in the Four Corners area and eastern Oklahoma, USA during 2007. The resulting data will be useful in the multipollutant management of ozone, nitrogen oxides, and visibility (atmospheric regional haze) in the Four Corners area, an area with growing oil/gas production and increasing coal-based power plant construction. The passive monitoring data also add new ambient ammonia concentration information for the U.S. and will be useful to scientists involved in present and future visibility modeling exercises. Three week integrated passive ammonia samples were taken at five sites in the Four Corners area and two sites in eastern Oklahoma from December, 2006 through December, 2007 (January, 2008 for two sites). Results show significantly higher regional background ammonia concentrations in eastern Oklahoma (1.8 parts per billion (ppb) arithmetic mean) compared to the Four Corners area (0.2 ppb arithmetic mean). Annual mean ammonia concentrations for all Four Corners area sites for the 2007 study ranged from 0.2 ppb to 1.5 ppb. Peak ambient ammonia concentrations occurred in the spring and summer in both areas. The passive samplers deployed at the Stilwell, Oklahoma site compared favorably with other passive samplers and a continuous ammonia monitoring instrument.

Long-term effects of constant exogenous ammonia concentrations were investigated in two different batches of turbot juveniles (53 and 73 g) under controlled environmental and feeding conditions. Over the 84-day experiments, ambient un-ionized ammonia (UIA-N, NH3) concentrations were steady (coefficient of variation, 12-16 %) and water pH range was 7.88-7.99. Survival was maximum up to 0.33 mg.l(-1) UIA-N and at 0.73, 50 % mortalities were observed on day 52 (73 g) or day 77 (53 g). No-growth concentration was 0.73 mg.l(-1) UIA-N in the two groups and the 84-day lowest-observable-effect concentration range 0.14-0.33 mg.l(-1). In the most tolerant group (53 g), the 84-day no-observable-effect concentration was 0.14 mg.l(-1) UIA-N. The estimated 28-day efficient concentration that gave 50 % of the specific growth rate of controls ranged from 0.60 to 0.75 mg.l(-1) UIA-N. Specific growth rate to ambient ammonia concentration patterns were different in the two groups for the lowest concentrations (0.14-0.34) and similar to food intake to ammonia pattern. Food efficiency was negatively correlated to ambient ammonia concentration, with major changes in food conversion ratio, and protein utilisation observed above 0.33-0.70 mg.l(-1) UIA-N. The main change in body composition was an increase in water content in all ammonia-exposed fish. A significant increase in urea-N excretion rate was also observed over 0.33 mg.l(-1) UIA-N. Thresholds for growth were affected by exposure duration. Turbot juveniles growth capacity may be depressed by usual ambient ammonia concentrations under intensive farming conditions.

Using sensors, the health and welfare of growing-finishing pigs can be continuously monitored by detecting deviations from pigs' normal behaviour, but the validity of such algorithms requires improvement. As changes in the environment influence pig behaviour, monitoring temporal changes in environmental factors may help identify periods with a higher risk of welfare issues. The real-time relationships between pig welfare and many environmental factors are, however, not well-understood. This study examined the short-term associations of ambient ammonia with indicators of pig production and health. Ambient ammonia concentrations were monitored with sensors during the growing-finishing period of three rounds at a German (farm G, n = 110 pigs/round) and one round at a Danish farm (farm D, n = 144 pigs). Body weight was estimated daily using 3D cameras (both farms), feed intake was recorded using electronic feeding stations (only farm G), and health indicators were recorded during twice- (farm G) or thrice-weekly (farm D) farm visits. Using splines (generalised additive models), ammonia concentrations were linked to indicators of pig production and health in real time and, for body weight, at a lag of 1, 2, 3 and 7 d. We found a range of relationships between ambient ammonia (5 - 50 ppm) and production or health indicators (i.e. body weight (real-time and lagged), feed intake, coughing, sneezing, pen fouling, diarrhoea, and tear staining), but they were highly inconsistent between farms and pig rounds. Part of this inconsistency may be due to differences in manure management and sensor locations, or could be explained by age or seasonal effects (e.g. heat stress). More robust relationships were identified for clinical measures related to pig behaviour, where tail damage and skin lesions linearly increased with ammonia from low concentrations (5 - 10 ppm) onwards, hence suggesting more tail biting and aggression at higher ammonia concentrations. In conclusion, ambient ammonia did not clearly associate with pig performance and health in the short term, while higher ammonia concentrations were related to higher occurrences of clinical signs reflecting undesirable behaviours. Therefore, daily ammonia measurements using sensors may be of limited value in identifying health issues in pigs, but they may aid in detecting periods with high risk of aggressive or tail biting behaviours that require interventions. As ambient ammonia was confounded with other environmental measurements, such as ambient temperature or carbon dioxide concentrations, identified associations should be interpreted cautiously or with ammonia as general indicator of air quality.

Weekly agricultural emissions and ambient concentrations of ammonia: Validation of an emission inventory

A new version of a ternary nucleation (sulphuric acid‐ammonia‐water) model based on classical nucleation theory, but with an improved ability to predict nucleation rates over a larger temperature range (258–303 K) compared with previous work, is presented. The modeled nucleation rates are given as a function of temperature and ambient acid and ammonia concentrations. For the first time the predicted ternary nucleation rates are compared to the observed particle production rates using measured ambient sulphuric acid and ammonia concentrations as input data. The ambient gas concentrations were measured simultaneously to aerosol formation rates during the 1999 New Particle Formation and Fate in the Coastal Environment (PARFORCE) coastal field campaign at Mace Head. According to the results, daytime ambient acid and ammonia concentrations were significantly higher than required by model calculations to induce the formation of new particles by homogeneous ternary nucleation. However, binary nucleation of sulphuric acid‐water molecules is not able to predict new particle formation since the binary nucleation rate is far too small. We conclude that all particle formation events observed at coastal sites can be initiated by ternary nucleation of sulphuric acid, ammonia, and water vapor. However, related studies illustrate that ambient sulphuric acid concentrations are, nevertheless, insufficient to explain observed rapid growth of particles from 1 to 3 nm sizes which can be detected by current instrumentation.

Ambient Ammonia Exposures in an Agricultural Community and Pediatric Asthma MorbidityAbstract Number:2786 Christine Loftus*, Michael Yost, Griselda Arias, Elizabeth Torres, Maria Tchong, Jenna Armstrong, Kris Hartin, and Catherine Karr Christine Loftus* University of Washington, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Michael Yost University of Washington, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Griselda Arias Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Elizabeth Torres Radio KDNA, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Maria Tchong University of Washington, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Jenna Armstrong National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Kris Hartin University of Washington, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , and Catherine Karr University of Washington, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author AbstractBackground: Large scale animal feeding operations (AFOs) compromise regional air quality in the rural United States, including by emission of ammonia gas. Exposure to airborne AFO pollution is suspected of causing pediatric asthma exacerbations in surrounding communities.Objectives: To describe spatial and temporal patterns in ambient ammonia concentrations in an agricultural region of Washington State, and to explore associations between short-term fluctuations in ammonia and subsequent changes in respiratory health for children with asthma.Methods: For 13 months in the Yakima Valley, 14 air monitors sampled outdoor air in 24- hour periods at six day intervals, and ambient ammonia concentrations were calculated. 51 school-aged children with asthma were followed over the same period for two health outcomes: biweekly reports of asthma severity using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), and daily measurements of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). Epidemiologic associations between each outcome and ammonia were assessed using generalized estimating equations.Results: 24-hour ammonia concentrations varied from 0.2 to 238.1 ug/m3 during the study period, and median concentrations by site displayed a strong correlation with AFO proximity. FEV1 as a percent of predicted values was 4.0% lower (96%CI: 0.7, 7.3) per interquartile increase in one-day lagged NH3 measurements and 3.3% lower (96%CI: 0.5, 6.3) for two-day lagged exposure assessment. No associations between results of the ACQ and estimated NH3 exposure were observed.Conclusions: Community-level ammonia concentrations were elevated in this region and strongly predicted by AFO proximity. Exposure to ammonia might cause lung function decrements in children with asthma in the surrounding community. Alternatively, ammonia may serve as a marker for other components of AFO emissions, and lung function decrements may be caused by exposure to overall AFO ‘plumes.’

Effects of Yucca Shidigera extract on feed utilization by equine weanlings

Regulation of pH homeostasis in the equine lung is poorly understood. Measurement of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH provided a simple, highly repeatable and noninvasive method for the longitudinal investigation of changes in airway pH in response to environmental changes. Stabling of horses was found to lead to a small (approximately 100-200 parts/billion) but significant (P < 0.001) increase in ambient ammonia concentration when compared to pasture. This increase in exposure to ambient ammonia concentration was associated with significant (P = 0.002) increases in EBC pH and exhaled ammonia (P = 0.013). Stable feed/bedding management type had no effect on EBC pH or exhaled ammonia concentration, while ambient ammonia concentration was influenced by stable management type.

Ambient ammonia concentrations, mainly originating from agricultural activities, have increased in the last few decades in Europe. As a consequence, critical loads on oligotrophic ecosystems such as forests and mires are greatly exceeded. Monitoring of ambient ammonia concentrations is necessary in order to investigate source-receptor relationships. Measuring ambient ammonia concentrations continuously with high time resolution is very expensive and cost-efficient systems are required. Where time resolution is of minor importance, several cost-effective systems, mainly dry denuder and passive samplers, can be applied. In this paper the Zürcher passive sampler, a diffusive sampling system, is presented. It is a Palmes type sampler with an acidic solution as absorbent and is easy to handle. It was tested at 46 sites in Switzerland over one year. The average concentration in ambient air was 2.5 microg m(-3) +/- 0.4 microg m(-3). The average of the blank values were 0.21 microg m(-3). The detection limit (double the standard deviation of the blank values) was 0.36 microg m(-3). Three passive samplers were exposed at each site and each period. The mean standard deviation of these triplicate measurements was 9.5%. Compared with a discontinuous tubular denuder system and a continuous annular denuder system, the deviation was less than 10%. The Zürcher passive sampler is a useful and cost-efficient tool to determine long-term average ammonia concentrations (one- to four-week periods) in ambient air for mean concentrations above 1 microg m(-3).

Ambient ammonia in terrestrial ecosystems: A comparative study in the Tennessee Valley, USA

The atmospheric deposition of air pollutants was studied by means of monitoring canopy throughfall at six forest stands. The investigation was carried out in Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) forests in Southern Bavaria with high ambient ammonia concentrations due to either adjacent intensive agriculture or poultry housing. Five monitoring plots transected the forest edges and forest interior from the edge, at 50, 150, about 400 m and about 800m to the interior. Additionally, nutrient concentration in soil solution was sampled with suction cups at each plot, and C/N ratio of the humus layer was also determined. The variation of ambient ammonia concentration between three of the six investigated sites was estimated using diffusive samplers. In order to compare the effects of atmospheric deposition on European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce additional monitoring plotswere installed under each of these species in a mixed beech and spruce stand. Bulk deposition and soil water samples were analysed for major ions (NO3-, NH4+, SO42-, Cl-, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+M).The results show a substantial increase of deposition towards the forest edges for all ions. This so called 'edge effect' continued in most cases until a distance from 50 to 150 m from edge. For both ambient ammonia concentrations and nitrogen deposition, it can be concluded that increased dry deposition is the main reason for the edge effect. Over 76% of the nitrogen ratios in throughfall deposition between the edge and 50 m distance into the spruce forest exceed 1.0. Except for potassium, beech generally showed lower ratios than spruce.Due to high nitrogen deposition the forest floor, C/N ratios were lower at stand edges when compared to their interior. In contrast to the increase of nitrogen deposition at the edge, nitrate export below the main rooting zone was lower at the edge. Nitrate export was generally lower under beech than spruce. Nitrogen budgets of some plots were negative, indicating a reduction of total ecosystem nitrogen stock.The results show that forest edges, especially in areas with high air pollution, receive much more atmospheric deposition than the interior parts of closed forest stands. As many deposition studies in forests were conducted at field stations in the central parts of forests the estimated deposition for the whole forest may be underestimated. This may be important to consider in geo-statistical studies and models aiming to estimate spatial critical deposition values, especially with an increasing fragmentation of the forest cover.

The effect of ambient ammonium concentration on the nitrate uptake rate of marine phytoplankton was investigated. These studies consisted of laboratory experiments using unialgal species and field experiments using natural phytoplankton communities. In laboratory experiments, ammonium suppressed the uptake rates of nitrate and nitrite. Approximately 30 min were required for ammonium to exhibit its fully inhibitory effect on nitrate uptake. At high ammonium concentration (>3 μg-at/l), a residual nitrate uptake rate of approximately 0.006 h-1 was observed. When the ambient ammonium concentration was reduced to a value less than 1 μg-at/l, the suppressed nitrate uptake rate subsequently attained a value comparable to that observed before the addition of ammonium. A range of 25 to 60% reduction in the nitrate uptake rate of natural phytoplankton communities was observed at ambient ammonium concentrations of ∼1.0 μg-at/l. A mechanism is proposed for the suppression of nitrate uptake rate by ammonium through feedback control of the nitrate permease system and/or the nitrate reductase enzyme system. The feedback control is postulated to be regulated by the level of total amino acids in the cell.

This study investigated oxygen consumption rate (OCR), coefficient and ammonia excretion rate of the greenling, Hexagrammos otakii Jordan et Starks with the average body weight of 250 g in a semi-recirculated respiratory measuring system. The experiment was done under three different water temperatures (10, 15, ) and five different ambient ammonia concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg/L). As the water temperature and ambient ammonia concentration increased the OCR has significantly increased (P and the relationship of water temperature (T) and ambient ammonia concentration (C) on the OCR were following: OCR

Aerobic and anaerobic biofiltration in an aquaculture unit—Nitrite accumulation as a result of nitrification and denitrification

Ambient concentrations of atmospheric ammonia, nitrogen dioxide and nitric acid across a rural–urban–agricultural transect in southern Ontario, Canada