Air Quality and Odor (H)
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Please note that this document has been reformatted and the electronic version may visually appear different than the original printed version. All the content has remained the same, except that the Tables of Contents of certain chapters have been simplified to make all chapters uniform and that the portions of certain chapters relating to comments from the GEIS Citizens Advisory Committee and responses to those comments have been deleted. Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Animal Agriculture: A Summary of the Literature Related to Air Quality and Odor (H) Prepared for the Environmental Quality Board Prepared by: Larry D. Jacobson, Roger Moon, Jose Bicudo, Kevin Janni, Sally Noll, Dept. of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Gerald Shurson, Dept. of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Jun Zhu, David Schmidt, Charles McGinley, Engineer, McGinley and Associates, Philip Goodrich, Richard Nicolai, Charles Clanton, Kenneth Davis, Lisa Brosseau, Jill Bruns, Public Health Nurse, Renville County, Minnesota, Carlos Pijoan, Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Thomas Blaha, Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota Beverly Durgan, UM Project Leader, Associate Dean for Research, COAFES Kathryn Draeger, UM Project Manager, Environmental Ground Inc. Unless otherwise noted all of the team members are associated with the University of Minnesota, College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences. H-i MH ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BOARD September, 1999 To Interested Minnesotans: The GEIS on Animal Agriculture is a statewide study authorized and funded by the 1998 Minnesota Legislature and ordered by the EQB. The Legislature directs the EQB to “. .examine the long-term effects of the livestock industry as it exists and as it is changing on the economy, environment and way of life of Minnesota and its citizens.” The intent of the GEIS is twofold: 1) to provide balanced, objective information on the effects of animal agriculture to future policymakers; and 2) to provide recommendations on future options for animal agriculture in the state. The success of the GEIS on Animal Agriculture will be measured by how well it educates and informs government officials, project proposers, and the public on animal agriculture, and the extent to which the information is reflected in future decisions and policy initiatives, made or enacted by Minnesota state and local governments. The GEIS consists of three phases during the period summer 1998 through summer 2001: scoping the study; studying and analyzing the 12 scoped topics; and drafting and finalizing the GEIS. The EQB has established a 24-member Advisory Committee to provide advise to EQB during all phases of the GEIS. The scoping phase of the GEIS was completed in December of 1998. This literature summary is the first step in the second phase aimed at study and analysis of the 12 key topics. This summary is intended to inform the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) members, EQB staff, and the Advisory Committee on the “Feedlot GEIS” scoping questions and research needed for adequate completion of the GEIS. The EQB would like to acknowledge the time and effort of the Advisory Committee members who provided invaluable input in the development of this “tool” for use throughout the GEIS process. The literature summary is formatted to address the 12 topics of concern and 56 study questions outlined in the Feedlot GEIS Scoping Document (www.mnnlan.state.mn.us). Any conclusions or inferences contained in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the EQB or the Feedlot GEIS Advisory Committee. The EQB would like to make this literature summary available to others interested in the effects of animal agriculture. Copies of this literature summary will be available for use in the Minnesota Plannin&QB Library: 300 Centennial Building, 658 Cedar Street, St. Paul. The Library will also house copies of the key literature review articles and the searchable database compiled as part of 658 Cedar St. this literature review. A limited number of copies of this literature summary will be St. Paul, MN 55155 printed for distribution at cost. Telephone: 651-296-3985 For further information on the GEIS or this literature summary please contact the EQB at 651-296-9535. Facsimile: 651-296-3698 TTY: 800-627-3529 www.mnplan state.mn.us 100% post-consumer . ‘ssioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and recycled content a---Chair, Minnesota Environmental Quality Board Literature Summary of the GEIS on Animal Agriculture UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ...............................................................................................H–4 Overview/critique of study questions......................................................................H–6 Review of Literature ..............................................................................................H-25 Recommendations for Additional Research............................................................H–129 Summary of Major Current or Ongoing Research...................................................H–130 Bibliography ..........................................................................................................H–134 H-ii Literature Summary of the GEIS on Animal Agriculture UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Measurement techniques for aerial pollutants in livestock buildings (Wathes, Phillips and others 1998) 9 Table 2 Elements of Dispersion Modeling. 16 Table 3 Comparison of the various state standards for hydrogen sulfide (State of Minnesota R. 7009-0080) 18 Table 4. A summary of odor regulations (Attorney General of the State of North Dakota 1999). 21 Table 5. Listing of volatile organic compounds and gases identified in livestock wastes. adapted from (O'Neill and Phillips 1992). 30 Table 6. Variation in hydrogen sulfide emissions over a 12 hour measurement period 37 Table 7. Influence of housing type on ammonia emissions. 39 Table 8. Estimated methane emissions from livestock and poultry waste (Safley and Casada 1992) 41 Table 9. Measured methane emission factors (MCF) for dairy cows. 41 Table 10. Mean inhalable and respirable dust emission rates from English, Dutch, Danish, and German livestock buildings. 42 Table 11. Mean emission rates of inhalable and respirable endotoxins over 24 h from different animal housing. 44 Table 12. Odor emissions for different pig categories (Verdoes and Ogink 1997) 46 Table 13. Different types of insects emanating from breeding substrates at livestock and poultry production facilities in the Upper Midwest, by animal species and facility type. “+” indicates likely presence, “-” scarcity or absence. 49 Table 14. Volatile organic compounds and gases identified in livestock wastes with documented subchronic, chronic, or acute health values. 65 Table 15. Summary of technologies for odor control 73 Table 16. Operating data and removal efficiency from a biomass filter. 85 Table 17. Guidelines for electricity generations (Parsons 1984) 122 Table 18. Effect of land application technique on the reduction of ammonia emissions after spreading cattle and pig slurry on grassland and arable land (adapted from Burton 1997) 128 H-ii Literature Summary of the GEIS on Animal Agriculture UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Daily variation in odor emissions for different animal buildings 47 Figure 2. Open face biofilter. 93 Figure 3. Rigid covers used for odor containment 96 Figure 4. Flexible plastic inflated cover and control systems (Zhang and Gaakeer 1996) 97 Figure 5. Schematics of odor reduction using permeable and impermeable floating covers 98 Figure 6. Possible routes (dotted lines) of N2O production from nitrification/denitrification pathway (Pahl and others 1997) 107 Figure 7. Schematic representation of a facultative lagoon with surface aeration 111 Figure 8. Activated sludge process for the treatment of flushed swine wastes 113 Figure 9. Typical SBR operation for 12-hour cycle 114 H-iii Literature Summary of the GEIS on Animal Agriculture UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Animal agriculture can be a source of numerous airborne contaminants including gases, odor, dust, microbes, and insects that are produced or emitted inside and near animal production facilities and when waste products are land-applied. Numerous gaseous compounds and living organisms are generated from livestock and poultry manure decomposition shortly after it is produced or during storage prior to use as a fertilizer on cropland. Particulate matter and dust come primarily from the feed and the animals. The rate of generation of these gases, organisms, and particulates varies with time, species, housing, manure handling system, feed type, and management system used, thus making prediction of contaminant presence and concentrations extremely difficult. Research has shown some animal production systems have reduced contaminant generation rates compared to other production systems. Numerous control strategies are being investigated to reduce contaminant generation. These strategies include the use of vegetable oil (in the feed or directly sprinkled in the barn) to lower airborne dust and other particulate emissions or the use of a biomass cover on a manure storage basin to reduce odor and gases emissions from stored manure. Even when using best management systems and/or mitigation techniques, some airborne contaminants may be generated. The contaminants may build up concentrations inside livestock and poultry buildings