Author(s)

Qian-Feng Li¹, Lingjuan Wang-Li^2*, R. K. M. Jayanty³, Sanjay Shah²

¹Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
²Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.
³RTI International, Research Triangle Park, USA.

Particulate matter (PM) emissions from animal feeding operations (AFOs) have been considered as an important contributor to ambient PM in rural areas. Investigation of the chemical compositions of PM_2.5 inside and in the vicinity of AFOs can enhance our understanding of the AFO emissions impact on ambient PM characteristics. This year-long field study was conducted on a commercial egg production farm to investigate ambient PM chemical compositions as impacted by the air emissions from the production houses. The PM_2.5 samples were collected from five sampling stations (one in-house station and four ambient locations in four wind directions). The trace elements, major ions, organic carbon (OC) and element carbon (EC) were analyzed by X-ray florescence (XRF), ion chromatography (IC), and thermo-optical analyzer, respectively. There were significant differences in elemental compositions between PM samples from in-house station (ST1) and ambient stations (ST2-ST5). The chemical mass balance analysis revealed that OC accounted for above 50% of PM_2.5 mass at in-house and ambient stations; NH₄⁺, SO₄^2-, and NO₃^- accounted for about 40.0% of the total PM_2.5 mass in ambient locations and for only 12% of the total PM_2.5 mass in house. The measured PM_2.5 masses agreed with the sums of the masses of chemical compositions at all stations except for the in-house station. Knowledge gained from this study, with additional consideration of NH₃ concentrations and emissions, will lead to better understanding of PM_2.5 source and formation, fate and transport, and their atmospheric dynamics.

Animal Feeding Operations, PM_2.5, Chemical Speciation, Elemental Composition, Mass Balance

Li, Q. , Wang-Li, L. , Jayanty, R. and Shah, S. (2015) Elemental Compositions and Chemical Mass Closure of Fine Particulate in an Animal Feeding Operation Facility and Its Vicinity. Journal of Environmental Protection, 6, 409-425. doi: 10.4236/jep.2015.65040.