Seasonal variations and spatial distribution of particulate matter emissions from a ventilated laying hen house in Northeast China

Li Guo,Shuli Ma,Xin Liu,Bo Zhao,Mo Li,Dongsen Zhao,Xiaolin Liu

doi:10.25165/j.ijabe.20201303.5111

Abstract

With the development of concentrated animal feeding operations in China, the air pollution problem has drawn widespread public attention. Residents living near farms are suffering from the emissions of particulate matter (PM) and odors. However, scientific data on the characteristics of these emissions are limited to the establishment and evaluation of mitigation strategies in China. This study was conducted to provide fundamental information on the concentrations of PM inside and outside a typical ventilated laying hen house in northeastern China. The results showed that outdoor PM concentrations of this laying hen house did not meet the requirements of the environmental quality standard of China’s livestock and poultry farms in the two days out of six sampling days in summer, while indoor PM concentrations met the environmental requirements during this study. The indoor and outdoor PM concentrations were highly correlated in summer, and over 60% of particles indoor were emitted outside via mechanical ventilation. There were more fine particles dominated both inside and outside of the laying hen house. Besides, twelve and nine elements were measured from the PM sources inside and outside laying hen house, respectively. PM control strategies may be adjusted based on the status of exhaust fans, the ages of laying hens, atmospheric conditions, and routine house management to well reduce PM emissions and improve control efficiency. Keywords: particulate matter, ventilated laying hen house, air emission, animal feeding operation DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20201303.5111 Citation: Guo L, Zhao D S, Zhao B, Ma S L, Liu X L, Li M, et al. Seasonal variations and spatial distribution of particulate matter emissions from a ventilated laying hen house in Northeast China. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2020; 13(3): 57–63.

Highlights

The high concentration of particulate matter (PM) can affect environmental sustainability as well as human and animal health and well-being[1]
It indicates that the indoor PM concentration during our sampling days met the requirements of the environmental quality standard of China’s livestock and poultry farms (EQSF, the number of laying hens raised at the site exceeds 5000), which requires PM10 and TSP concentration inside the house area should be controlled to be less than 4 mg/m3 and 8 mg/m3, respectively[30]
The results show that there were 4 d out of 6 d of sampling time in summer that the outdoor PM concentration met the requirements of EQSF, which requires PM10 and TSP concentration in the buffer zone should be controlled to be less than 0.5 mg/m3 and 1 mg/m3, respectively[30]

Summary

Introduction

The high concentration of particulate matter (PM) can affect environmental sustainability as well as human and animal health and well-being[1]. Long-term exposure to air pollutants increased the risk of lung disease, mortality, and respiratory system or heart failure hospitalization[2,3,4,5]. The air pollution emitted from livestock and poultry breeding industry contained high levels of particulate matter, endotoxin, toxic gases, and other microbial components[6]. The PM concentration in livestock and poultry houses was 10-200 times higher than in other indoor environments[6]. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were at increased risk of worsening the disease by exposure to the emissions from livestock farms[9]

Methods

Results

Conclusion