Emissions monitoring at a deep-pit swine finishing facility: Research methods and system performance

Abstract

This paper describes part of a comprehensive National Air Emissions Monitoring Study (NAEMS) conducted at a swine finishing farm located in the state of Indiana, in the United States. The NAEMS was a 2-year study of emissions from animal feeding operations that produce pork, chicken meat, eggs, and milk. It provided emission data for the US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop tools for estimating emissions from livestock farms. The study in Indiana focused on quantifying and characterizing emissions of gases, particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a swine finishing quad (four 1000-head rooms under one roof). Long-term continuous and quasi-continuous measurements were conducted with 157 on-line measurement variables using an array of instruments and sensors for gas and PM concentrations, fan operation, room static pressures, indoor temperature and humidity, animal activity and feeding times, and weather conditions. Pig inventory and weight, feed type and quantity, and manure accumulation and composition were also documented. Systematic tests of the measurement system were conducted. Monitoring methodologies, instrumentation applications, equipment maintenance, quality controls, and system performances are presented and can be used as a reference in assessing research quality and improving future environmental studies on livestock facilities.

Particulate Matter in Swine Barns: A Comprehensive Review

“…It can be seen that PM 10 and PM 2.5 have gradually outpaced inhalable PM and respirable PM as the measurement focus, especially in recent years. Additionally, during this period, several major monitoring campaigns were conducted to determine the baseline emission of air pollutants from animal facilities, e.g., the Four Country study in Northern Europe [39], the Aerial Pollutant Emissions from Confined Animal Buildings (APECAB) study in the U.S. Midwest [40], and the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study (NAEMS) across the U.S. [41]. These campaigns have greatly facilitated the use of highly accurate, realtime instruments and the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for PM concentration measurement in swine barns.…”

Particulate Matter in Swine Barns: A Comprehensive Review

“…It can be seen that PM10 and PM2.5 have gradually outpaced inhalable PM and respirable PM as the measurement focus, especially in recent years. Also during this period, several major monitoring campaigns were conducted to determine the baseline emission of air pollutants from animal facilities, e.g., the Four Country study in Northern Europe (Takai et al, 1998), the Aerial Pollutant Emissions from Confined Animal Buildings (APECAB) study in the U.S. Midwest (Jacobson et al, 2006), and the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study (NAEMS) across the U.S. (Jin et al, 2012). These campaigns have greatly facilitated the use of highly accurate, real-time instruments and the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for PM concentration measurement in swine barns.…”

Odor and Odorous Chemical Emissions from Animal Buildings: Part 1. Project Overview, Collection Methods, and Quality Control

“…For the purpose of this study, rooms 5 and 7 of this barn (separated by a 3.2 m wide hallway) were treated as the barn 1 and barn 2 sampling locations, respectively. For about the first 110 days of each growing cycle (Jin et al, 2012), all nursery pigs (approximately 4000 head) were housed in two rooms, after which they were separated to fill the other two rooms as growth demanded. The barn was mechanically ventilated year-round using three 61 cm pit fans and one 92 cm and four 122 cm diameter end wall fans (used in stages as barn temperature increased).…”