Source and Receptor Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide Concentrations in Communities with and without Swine Emission Sources: Follow-Up Study

Research was conducted from May 2004 through September 2005 to investigate the concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) at the perimeter of nine swine operations across the state of Iowa and the ammonia (NH 3 ) and H 2 S concentrations near and inside residences located in the community of swine operations and in one area of the state not associated with animal agriculture. The nine sources monitored ranged from sites that housed approximately 1,800 to 4,000 finishing pigs. The results indicated that at the perimeter of all nine sources monitored, the overall average H 2 S concentration ranged from 1.9 +/- 2.7 ppb to 26.3 +/- 32.3 ppb (mean +/- S.D.). Downwind samples, or samples collected during calm periods, resulted in average H 2 S concentrations that ranged from 7.4 +/- 6.9 ppb to 45.8 +/- 31.8 ppb. In both cases, the maximum H 2 S concentration was recorded at a finishing site where an earthen basin and a concrete formed below-grade basin existed in close proximity to the livestock housing. Measurements of H 2 S and NH 3 were also conducted at five residences, four of which were located near the swine operation sites for perimeter H 2 S levels, with one located in an urban setting far removed from animal agriculture. The overall daily average NH 3 concentration measured inside the homes ranged from 28.6 +/- 12.8 ppb to 94.7 +/- 28.1 ppb. The overall daily average NH 3 concentration measured in the ambient air outside the homes ranged from 11.7 +/- 5.3 ppb to 55.1 +/- 20.6 ppb. The NH 3 concentration inside the homes were significantly higher than in the ambient air outside of the homes (p<0.01). H 2 S concentration inside the homes ranged from 0.7 +/- 0.2 ppb to 2.5 +/- 1.5 ppb. Hydrogen sulfide concentration in the ambient air outside the home ranged from 0.4 +/- 0.2 ppb to 2.4 +/- 2.4 ppb. For the residence monitored in an urban setting far removed from animal agriculture, the overall average H 2 S concentration outside the home was 0.4 +/- 0.2 ppb with the inside home averaging 0.7 +/- 0.2 ppb. The highest average inside home concentration for NH 3 and H 2 S was 94.7 +/- 28.1 ppb and 2.5 +/- 1.5 ppb, respectively, both from a residence where the occupants smoked. The next highest inside home NH 3 concentration was 85.7 +/- 15.3 ppb. For this residence the occupants did not smoke but felines were kept inside. The results from the residence ambient air monitoring indicate that the concentration and duration for either NH 3 or H 2 S fell well below the Minimum Risk Levels (MRL) as defined by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR, 2008).