15th Conf on Biometeorology and Aerobiology and the 16th International Congress of Biometeorology

Wednesday, 30 October 2002: 4:00 PM
Measurement Techniques and Evaluation of Ammonia As An Odorant
Lowry A. Harper, USDA, Watkinsville, GA; and R. R. Sharpe
Due to the simultaneous increase in suburbanization of previously rural and agricultural areas and the rapid growth of confined animal feeding operations, there have been increasing complaints of odor nuisance associated with livestock. Complaint odors include volatile organic and sulfur compounds from animals and their wastes. Complaints from livestock parallels increased complaints of odors in general including paints, beauty products, cleaners, and other industrial and urban sources. Ammonia is also listed as livestock odorant. Ammonia has a wide range of olfactory threshold concentrations specified in the literature and in health-regulation documentation. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss problems associated with the accurate and appropriate measurement of ammonia concentrations in the environment and discuss whether ammonia from agricultural sources may be considered as an odorant in relation to concentrations measured in and nearby cropping and confined animal feeding operations.

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