AAAR 35th Annual Conference October 17 - October 21, 2016 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Particle Size Distributions in and Exhausted from a Poultry House
PHILIP SILVA, Nanh Lovanh, USDA-ARS
Abstract Number: 574 Working Group: Remote and Regional Atmospheric Aerosols
Abstract Here we describe a study looking at the size range of particles in a poultry house. Agricultural particulates are typically thought of as coarse mode dust. But recent emphasis of PM$_(2.5) regulations on pre-cursors such as ammonia and volatile organic compounds increasingly makes it necessary to look at the full particle size range. This study was performed at a poultry house using wood chips as the bedding material. Particle size distributions were obtained using a scanning mobility particle sizer for the small size range (0.01 – 0.5 micro-meters) and an aerodynamic particle sizer for the larger size range (0.3 – 20 micro-meters). In addition, optical particle counters were place inside and outside the house at an exhaust fan to assess the concentrations and changes in particle size distribution in the house compared to emitted particles. Data was obtained for the duration of a flock of birds (six weeks) followed by clean out of the house. Results indicate that particle size distributions and number concentrations both changed significantly over the time period. Particle size distributions and mass concentration had a tendency to increase as the study continued. Large spikes in coarse particle concentrations were observed at times correlated to bird activity and dust generation. We expected that the constant presence of background particles in addition to high concentrations of ammonia and other gases would mean that secondary production of aerosol would be limited to accumulation on pre-existing particles, however some evidence for new particle formation was observed during the study.