S1025: Systems for Controlling Air Pollutant Emissions and Indoor Environments of Poultry, Swine, and Dairy Facilities
Statement of Issues and Justification
Advances in environmental control technologies have assisted in the intensive production of livestock and poultry resulting in improved productivity and profitability. However, the intensity of animal production and competitive economic factors have sometimes resulted in poor indoor air quality and emission of air pollutants such as odorous and hazardous gases, dusts, global atmospheric constituents (e.g., greenhouse gases like methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide), and microbiological pollutants such as bacteria, fungi and endotoxin into the outdoor environment. In general, air quality and emission control technologies used for industrial sources appear to be uneconomical, and often impractical, for agricultural animal production. Further, the air emissions from animal buildings have very different characteristics from other types of facilities such as its particle size distribution and composition. However, numerous approaches to control indoor air quality and reduce air pollutant emissions have been developed which can be incorporated into existing production schemes without prohibitive costs or resource requirements. Indoor air cleaning, manure pit ventilation, manure/litter treatments, feed ration manipulation and improved indoor airflow control can benefit indoor air quality. Biological and mechanical exhaust air cleaners, dispersion devices such as stacks and windbreaks, and indoor air cleaning methods can directly reduce air pollutant emissions. In order to address the widespread and growing concerns regarding animal facility air quality and emissions, a multi-disciplinary approach involving collaborative efforts of scientists and engineers is needed. Quantification of the beneficial effects of all air emission control technologies can best be accomplished by professionals familiar with these systems and will facilitate the development of cost-effective solutions.JUSTIFICATION:
Poultry and livestock production are major industries in the U.S. with 7.6 billion broilers, 301 million turkeys, and 102 million hogs marketed in the U.S. in 2003. Also animal production has been consolidating rapidly over the past 10 to 20 years. In the 15 years from 1982 to 1997, the number of US animal production operations decreased by 50% while animal production increased by 10% (Gollehon, et al., 2001). The fewer, larger and more productive facilities has magnified the influence of the indoor environments on the productivity and well-being of the animals, comfort and health of workers, air pollution emissions and effects on neighboring communities, and energy and resource use on the farm. Despite developments of some promising technologies for improving indoor environments and controlling emissions, continued cost concern by producers and the lack of targeted air pollution regulations at the animal production industry have prevented widespread adoption of these technologies. However, the explosive growth of animal production in some areas and increased migration of urban residents to rural communities have brought increased conflicts between animal producers and concerned citizens resulting in numerous lawsuits, moratoria on expansion of intensive swine farms, odor control regulations, and intensive public debates. Although much current dissatisfaction is driven by concerns about odors, air quality concerns have also focused attention on nitrogen deposition and ammonia emissions, for which animal buildings are a major source. In addition, scientists are continuing to gather and publish evidence that indoor environments are adversely affecting the health of workers and neighbors of poultry and livestock farms. Concerning emissions, the National Air Emission Monitoring Study (NAEMS) that is part of the EPA Air Quality Compliance Agreement and Final Order for Animal Feeding Operations, proposes later this year (2006) to start a comprehensive monitoring of gas and PM emissions from selected animal production sites. The National Research Council (NRC, 2003) report recommended the development of scientifically credible methodologies for estimating and mitigating air emissions from animal operation. Thus, many of the impediments to adoption of technologies for improving indoor air quality and reducing air pollution emissions are likely to change substantially in the next few years.
As pressures to reduce air pollution increase while consumer demand for safe food at minimal cost continues, there will be incentives to develop cost-effective control technologies. Climatic constraints on food animal production in the U.S., especially in areas with warm, humid conditions that require substantial ventilation and removal of heat and moisture produced by the animals, will continue. Although air pollution and worker health concerns are expected to be major forces affecting animal systems in the near future, animal welfare concerns have also affected public perception of animal producers. Failure to consider animal welfare during the development and refinement of production systems could further erode public confidence and eventually result in additional constrains on production methods. A cooperative project involving engineers and scientists from a wide variety of disciplines in the intensive animal production regions will facilitate timely development and adoption of technologies and systems to meet the increased need for reducing air pollution emissions and adverse impacts of indoor environments on worker health, while sustaining animal productivity and well-being. Researchers cooperating in this project will focus on poultry, swine, and dairy due to their regional economic importance.
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