Comprehensive field studies were initiated in 2002 to measure emissions of ammonia (NH 3 ), hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC), particulate matter Ͻ10 m in diameter, and total suspended particulate from swine and poultry production buildings in the United States. This paper focuses on the quasicontinuous gas concentration measurement at multiple locations among paired barns in seven states. Documented principles, used in air pollution monitoring at industrial sources, were applied in developing quality assurance (QA) project plans for these studies. Air was sampled from multiple locations with each gas analyzed with one high quality commercial gas analyzer that was located in an environmentally controlled on-farm instrument shelter. A nominal 4 L/min gas sampling system was designed and constructed with Teflon wetted surfaces, bypass pumping, and sample line flow and pressure sensors. Three-way solenoids were used to automatically switch between multiple gas sampling lines with Ն10 min sampling intervals. Inside and outside gas sampling probes were between 10 and 115 m away from the analyzers. Analyzers used chemiluminescence, fluorescence, photoacoustic infrared, and photoionization detectors for NH 3 , H 2 S, CO 2 , CH 4 , and NMHC, respectively. Data were collected using personal computerbased data acquisition hardware and software. This paper discusses the methodology of gas concentration measurements and the unique challenges that livestock barns IMPLICATIONSThe emission of air pollutants is currently the biggest manure management issue facing U.S. agriculture. Gas pollutants emitted by concentrated animal feeding operations can create neighborhood nuisance, animal and/or human health concerns, or noncompliance with state and/or federal regulations. Currently, an assessment of the true impact of these pollutants is limited by the lack of reliable emission rate data. Gas emission measurement methods described in this paper were used to determine baseline emission rates for animal confinement buildings, provide data for the development of process-based models, and test abatement methods.

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releases are also needed to evaluate odor effects through science-based setback models . OdorOdor and gas release from anaerobic lagoons for treating swine is evaluated by determining odor concentration (OC), waste affect air quality in neighboring communities but rates of release are not well documented. A buoyant convective flux chamber (BCFC) intensity, and hedonic tone (HT) (Lim et al., 2001). An was used to determine the effect of lagoon loading rate on measured odor unit (OU) is defined as the amount of odorant(s) odor and gas releases from two primary lagoons at a simulated wind (VSLR) (National Engineering Handbook, 1999). The covers (Ritter, 1989;Zhang et al., 1996).acceptable VSLR varies from one location to another Measurements of the character and quantity of odor since the rate of solids decomposition in anaerobic lagoons is a function of temperature.

Standard protocols for sampling and measuring odor emissions from livestock buildings are needed to guide scientists, consultants, regulators, and policy-makers. A federally funded, multistate project has conducted field studies in six states to measure emissions of odor, coarse particulate matter (PM(10)), total suspended particulates, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and carbon dioxide from swine and poultry production buildings. The focus of this paper is on the intermittent measurement of odor concentrations at nearly identical pairs of buildings in each state and on protocols to minimize variations in these measurements. Air was collected from pig and poultry barns in small (10 L) Tedlar bags through a gas sampling system located in an instrument trailer housing gas and dust analyzers. The samples were analyzed within 30 hr by a dynamic dilution forced-choice olfactometer (a dilution apparatus). The olfactometers (AC'SCENT International Olfactometer, St. Croix Sensory, Inc.) used by all participating laboratories meet the olfactometry standards (American Society for Testing and Materials and European Committee for Standardization [CEN]) in the United States and Europe. Trained panelists (four to eight) at each laboratory measured odor concentrations (dilution to thresholds [DT]) from the bag samples. Odor emissions were calculated by multiplying odor concentration differences between inlet and outlet air by standardized (20 degrees C and 1 atm) building airflow rates.

The determination of odor-based setbacks for swine facilities is an important issue for the pork production industry. Sufficient setbacks prevent costly nuisance complaints and lawsuits, and excessive setbacks stifle expansion. Therefore, a science-based setback estimation tool to guide and educate livestock producers and regulators is needed. This paper describes a new simple-to-use, site-specific setback guideline developed specifically for U.S. swine production facilities. The guideline at least partially accounts for wind frequency, land use, topography, orientation and shape, facility size, building design and management, manure handling characteristics, and odor abatement effectiveness. Odor emission factors were based in part on actual odor emission measurements in commercial swine nursery and finishing buildings. The Gaussian atmospheric dispersion model was used to conduct sensitivity analyses on certain aspects of the setback guideline. The guideline is now a planning and educational tool for determining odor impact distance from swine facilities. An interactive version of the guideline has been published on the World Wide Web at www.agairquality.com.