Characterization of Aerosol in Poultry Farms with Low-Cost Sensors and Research-Grade Instruments

Rowshon Afroz, Xinyang Guo, Chu-Wen Cheng, Sohaib Omar, Kerry Chen, Jason S. Olfert, Valerie Carney, Martin Zuidhof, RAN ZHAO, University of Alberta

     Abstract Number: 169
     Working Group: Bioaerosols

Abstract
The poultry industry contributes $8 billion to the Gross Domestic Product in Canada, where indoor farming dominates poultry production. Aerosol in indoor farms can be hundreds of times higher than those outdoors. With the current movement from caged to cage-free housings, aerosol concentrations are expected to rise further. At such high levels, aerosol and other air pollutants can induce a significant adverse health impact on both farmworkers and chickens. Aerosol concentration in farms is rarely monitored on a regular basis, largely due to the cost of aerosol instruments. The recent emergence of low-cost particle sensors has drastically changed the strategy of outdoor aerosol monitoring. The application of such sensors can potentially revolutionize environmental monitoring in poultry farms. However, the performance of low-cost sensors in poultry farms has not been evaluated before. The objectives of our study are to 1) characterize aerosol in egg farms using research-grade instruments and 2) evaluate the performance and accuracy of low-cost sensors in egg farms. Initial testing was performed at an experimental farm of Poultry Research Centre, University of Alberta. Advanced aerosol instruments, including an optical particle counter and an aerodynamic particle sizer, were used to monitor aerosol. Clogging of the inlet tubing was a serious issue for low-cost sensors, preventing their continuous operation on the farm. After changing the inlet design, the sensors operated continuously for weeks without maintenance. Initially, a large deviation was observed between the reading of low-cost sensors and research-grade ones. Utilizing gravimetric methods and aerosol instruments, we have deduced a calibration factor to correct the signal of low-cost sensors. In the near future, we are planning to apply our sensors and instruments to commercial table egg farms in the surrounding area.