New insights into concentrations, sources and transformations of NH3, NOx, SO2 and PM at a commercial manure-belt layer house

Wang, Yue; Niu, Binglong; Ni, Ji-Qin; Xue, Wentao; Zhu, Zhiping; Li, Xinrong; Zou, Guoyuan

New insights into concentrations, sources and transformations of NH3, NOx, SO2 and PM at a commercial manure-belt layer house

2020

Pollutant gases and particulate matters (PM) from livestock facilities can affect the health of animals and farm workers and lead to great social environmental risks. This paper presents a comprehensive study on the characteristics of ammonia (NH₃), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and PM (including PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) in a 100,000-bird manure-belt layer house in suburb Beijing for three typical seasons of summer, autumn and winter. Indoor air was sampled at an exhaust fan of the mechanically ventilated commercial house. The monitored indoor concentrations of NH₃, NOₓ, SO₂, PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ were 3.7–5.0 mg m⁻³, 17–58 μg m⁻³, 0–11 μg m⁻³, 100–149 μg m⁻³ and 354–828 μg m⁻³, respectively. The indoor NH₃ concentrations were largely influenced by the manure removal frequency. The NOₓ and SO₂ were mainly sourced from the ambient air, and the NOₓ was also partly sourced from manure decomposition in summer. The indoor PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ were largely sourced from the ambient air and the indoor manure, respectively. The abundant indoor NH₃ caused significantly higher NH₄⁺ concentration in the indoor PM₁₀ (7.98 ± 9.04 μg m⁻³) than that in the ambient PM₁₀ (3.48 ± 3.52 μg m⁻³). Secondary inorganic ions (SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺) totally contributed 5.7% and 14.6% to the indoor and ambient PM₂.₅, respectively; they contributed 2.8% and 8.9% to the indoor and ambient PM₁₀, respectively. Organic carbon was the main component of the PM and accounted for 26.6% and 41.5% of the indoor PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀, respectively. Heavy metal elements (Zn, Cu and Cr) were likely transported from feed to manure and finally accumulated in the PM. Given the high emission potential, the air pollutants from animal production suggested potential risks for human health.

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