FINE PARTICULATE MATTER IN A HIGH-RISE LAYER HOUSE AND ITS VICINITY

摘要

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is one of many air pollutants emitted from animal feeding operations (AFOs). Knowledge about PM2.5 in AFO production facilities and their vicinity is important for studies of its impact on health, animal welfare, and the environment. However, very little information is available about PM2.5 concentrations and emissions, and their spatial and temporal variations, associated with egg production facilities. In this study, Partisol 2300 PM2.5 speciation samplers were used to take daily PM2.5 samples in a high-rise layer house and at four ambient stations. The sampling period covered four seasons, with a total of 300 samples. The results showed that none of the ambient PM2.5 concentrations exceeded the 35 mu g m(-1) (24 h) and 15 mu g m(-1) (annual) PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The ambient stations and the in-house station showed strong seasonal variations; the ambient stations had the highest PM2.5 concentrations in summer; and the in-house station had the highest concentration in winter. Based on the gamma distribution, 95% confidence intervals of PM2.5 emissions (mg PM2.5 d(-1) hen(-1)) were [7.86, 11.4]. The downtime PM2.5 concentration mean was one-tenth that of the occupied house. PM2.5 concentrations were negatively correlated with ambient RH, egg production, and ventilation rate. Statistical tests did not show a strong correlation between ambient PM2.5 concentrations and emissions from the layer house. This study adds to a growing body of research assessing the environmental impact, air quality, emissions of AFOs and the relationship between PM2.5 and the environmental and farm management inventory information.