Particulate matter and ammonia emission factors for tunnel-ventilated broiler production houses in the southern US

ABSTRACT. Emissions rates for particulate matter less than 10 m (PM10) and ammonia (NH3) from commercial tunnel–ventilated broiler houses in central Texas were analyzed using linear regressions to develop emission rates as a function of bird weight for broilers on litter. Interior ambient temperature and relative humidity were not found to be significant factors affecting emissions. From the regression equations, emission rates for PM10 and NH3 for average weight birds in these facilities were estimated. Over a 7–week grow–out period, the average bird weight was estimated to be 1.03 kg, the average emission rate for PM10 was 26.5 mg PM10 bird–1 day–1, and the average emision rate for NH3 was 632 mg bird–1 day–1. The emission factor was defined as the total emission in mass per bird for the grow–out period. For typical production conditions and management, the emission factor for PM10 was 1.3 g PM10 bird–1, and for NH3 the emission factor was 31 g NH3 bird–1. These results were compared to values found in the literature. For a facility comprised of four tunnel–ventilated broiler houses with 27,5000 birds per house and a 2–week idle time between 7–week grow–out periods, the emission inventory was calculated to be 828.2 kg PM10 year–1 and 19,780 kg NH3 year–1. The annual emissions for PM10 were below those required to be reported under the Federal Clean Air Act, and there is currently no requirement for NH3 under this legislation