AAAR 34th Annual Conference
October 12 - October 16, 2015
Hyatt Regency
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Abstract View
Bioaerosols Emitted from Manure Application Sites: What are the Risks?
MICHAEL JAHNE, Shane Rogers, Thomas Holsen, Stefan Grimberg, Ivan Ramler, Seungo Kim, Clarkson University
Abstract Number: 68 Working Group: Primary and Secondary Aerosols from Agricultural Operations
Abstract Land application of livestock manure is an important agriculture practice, providing the two-fold benefit of waste disposal and crop fertilization. However, zoonotic pathogens that are frequently detected in land-applied materials present concern of public health impacts. While exposure through waterways contaminated by surface runoff has received considerable attention, the health risk of bioaerosols containing manure pathogens that are emitted following land application has not been well documented. The objective of this study was to determine the human health risk associated with inhalation exposure and downwind deposition of airborne bacterial pathogens emitted from land application sites. To do so, edge-of-field aerosol samples were collected following manure application at dairy CAFOs in northern New York and analyzed by real-time qPCR in order to determine the ambient concentration, size distribution, and deposition rates of total and fecal indicator bacteria immediately downwind of their source. Bioaerosol emissions and transport were then modeled using the USEPA’s AERMOD dispersion model. Results were coupled with manure pathogen contents reported by the USEPA, relevant exposure pathways, and pathogen-specific dose-response relationships to estimate a range of realistic downwind risks using Monte Carlo simulation and a quantitative microbial risk assessment approach. Exposure pathways included direct public inhalation as well as downwind deposition to food production plots. Results indicate that bioaerosols emitted from manure application sites may present significant public health risks, and should be considered in a thorough assessment of CAFO manure management practices. Information resulting from this study will allow farm operators, regulators, and other stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding manure management practices and the risks that they present.