The National Air Emissions Monitoring Study’s Southeast Layer Site: Part II. Particulate Matter

Abstract

Abstract. The National Air Emissions Monitoring Study (NAEMS) was established by the U.S. EPA and the U.S. livestock and poultry industries to address the lack of scientific air emission data needed for properly assessing compliance with federal air laws and regulations. A North Carolina egg layer farm (NC2B) was one of 20 NAEMS monitored farms. Emission rates of particulate matter (PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and TSP) from two high-rise layer houses at NC2B were determined based on continuous measurements of PM concentrations and house ventilation rates over a two-year period. The overall average PM 2.5 emission rate of both houses combined was 0.37 ±3.06 mg d -1 hen -1 with no significant difference between houses. The average PM 10 emission rates were 16.2 ±13.7 and 19.3 ±15.9 mg d -1 hen -1 from houses 3 and 4, respectively, and 17.8 ±14.9 mg d -1 hen -1 for both houses combined. The average TSP emission rates were 39.1 ±32.8 and 47.1 ±37.6 mg d -1 hen -1 for houses 3 and 4, respectively, and 43.1 ±35.5 mg d -1 hen -1 for both houses combined. The median hourly mean emission rates were 0.61, 14.7, and 31.7 mg d -1 hen -1 from house 3 and 0.72, 17.1, and 42.4 mg d -1 hen -1 from house 4 for PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and TSP, respectively. Significant temporal variations in PM concentrations and emissions were observed. Significant differences in PM concentrations were also observed between the manure pit and layer room. The PM emissions exhibited significant correlations with hen activity and house exhaust air temperature. An empirical PM emissions model was developed based on multiple regression analysis to predict PM emissions from this monitoring site.