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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #192477

Title: Aerosolized dust particulates and bioaerosols of a dairy on the Southern High Plains of New Mexico

Author
item Purdy, Charles
item Clark, Ray
item STRAUS, DAVID - TEXAS TECH UNIV

Submitted to: American Association for Aerosol Research
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/6/2006
Publication Date: 9/10/2006
Citation: Purdy, C.W., Clark, R.N., Straus, D.C. 2006. Aerosolized dust particulates and bioaerosols of a dairy on the Southern High Plains of New Mexico [abstract]. In: Abstract Book (Volume 1) of 2006 International Aerosol Conference, September 10-15, 2006, St. Paul, Minnesota. p. 867.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Aerosolized particulates and bioaerosols emanating from dairy concentrated animal feeding operations (CSAFO’s) have come under increasing regulatory scrutiny. The concentration and size of dust particles, and the type and concentration of bioaerosols (including endotoxins) need to be determined in dairies consisting of several thousand head. To conduct this study we divided the dairy (D3) into four unique areas, three outside and one inside. They were the open air accessory barn (feed processing area), processed manure windrows or replacement heifer pens depending on the dairy, and boundary fences which included the open air loafing pens. Outside sites were analyzed upwind and downwind as close to the site that was practical and safe. The milk barn air was analyzed inside; collection sites were down the central alley at both the front and back opposite cows being milked, and a few meters outside the barn for control intake air. Aerosol equipment consisted of sequential Reference Ambient Air Samplers (RAAS 300) PM2.5 and PM10 particulate monitors, DustTrak 8520 laser monitors, and biological cascade impactors. Both six-stage and two-stage impactors were used to determine the concentration of bioaerosols, and specialized media was used to differentiate the type of bacteria and fungi. Only the RAAS Federal Reference Method data are reported in this abstract. There was no significant difference (PROC GLM) between RAAS upwind, 0.0444 mg/m3 (0.009 SEM) and downwind, 0.0617 mg/m3 (0.011 SEM) mean concentration of dust. A significant (P <=0.001) difference was observed between RAAS PM10, 0.0907 mg/m3 (0.012 SEM) and PM2.5, 0.0162 mg/m3 (0.003 SEM) mean dust concentration. Mean dust concentration was significantly (P <=0.008) greater 0.0676 mg/m3 (0.012 SEM) at the accessory barn compared to that collected at the boundary fences (0.0424 mg/m3 (0.008 SEM)). The main facility was significantly (P <= 0.001) less dusty 0.0301 mg/m3 (0.003 SEM) than the heifer replacement lot 0.0741 mg/m3 (0.013 SEM). The milk barn’s intake air contained 0.0245 mg/m3 (0.003 SEM), inside front had 0.0366 mg/m3 (0.006 SEM), and inside back had 0.0406 mg/m3 (0.007 SEM), and these three values were significant at the P <=0.06 level.