Extended Abstract (16K)10B.2
Impact of Livestock Operations on Air Quality
Jerry L. Hatfield, USDA, Ames, IA
Air quality impacts from livestock operations have many different components and sources. However, society has begun to question whether the gases emitted from livestock operations have potential ecological and health effects and whether these emissions can be reduced. Emissions from livestock operations come from three sources: production buildings, manure storage and handling systems, and manure application. Emissions consist of these gases: hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane, and volatile organic compounds, and particulates. Of these gases, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds have odor thresholds that cause the most concern because of their detection by neighbors. Particulate loading from livestock buildings may be a critical air quality component because of the potential ability of particulates to act as carriers of gases and pathogens. There are differences among components of livestock systems in their emissions and understanding the variation within a given gas or particulate across system components is critical in being able to develop strategies that reduce emissions. Ammonia studies around swine production buildings shows a large variation within and among days depending upon the meteorological conditions and management operations within buildings. A similar response has been found for field application of manure. Dispersion of gases and particulates downwind of facilities can be modeled using predicted mathematical models that account for topography, land cover, building arrangement, and the meteorological conditions. One of the large challenges for the next decade in biometeorology will be to quantify the air quality impacts from livestock and the potential implications and the interactions between livestock as a biological system coupled with the meteorological conditions.
Session 10B, Spread of Odors from Animal Facilities
Wednesday, 30 October 2002, 2:45 PM-4:30 PM
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