Effect of Dust Filtration Control on CO2 and NH3 Concentrations in a Swine Farrowing Room

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gassman RG
• Description:
  Swine workers in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are at risk of developing respiratory illnesses as a result of exposure to a combination of ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2), and dust. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of a recirculating ventilation system with a filter-type air pollution control (APC) unit (Shaker Dust Collector, United Air Specialists Inc.), selected to control dust, would inadvertently increase NH3 and CO2 concentrations in a farrowing room. During the 2013-14 winter season, NH3 and CO2 concentrations were measured at six fixed locations throughout the farrowing room test site. Direct reading instruments (NH3: VRAE, Rae Systems Inc.; CO2: ToxiRAE Pro, Rae Systems Inc.) were deployed for 24-hour periods throughout the season on 18 randomly selected days. Contaminant concentrations were measured and compared by ventilation status (APC ON: 11 days, APC OFF: 7 days). Ammonia concentrations were above the literature recommended limit (7 ppm) on 13 of the 18 sample days (72%) and even exceeded the threshold limit value (TLV) of 25 ppm on one of the sample days. Carbon dioxide concentrations exceeded the literature recommended limit of 1540 ppm on all 18 sample days, and average concentrations were half of the TLV (2500 ppm). There was no statistically significant difference in NH3 (p > 0.23) or CO2 (p > 0.67) when concentrations were compared by APC status. The results of this study indicate a recirculating ventilation system with filter dust control does not increase NH3 or CO2 concentrations spatially or temporally in the room during operation. Future work will investigate engineering control options to reduce CO2 concentrations in the farrowing room. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Animals Carbon Dioxide Dust Livestock Occupational Health Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Ammonia Carbon Dioxide Dust Control Dust Exposure Filters Livestock Industry Ventilation Systems
• Publisher:
  University of Iowa
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Thesis
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; OSHA Region 7
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-47
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052638
• Citation:
  Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa, 2015 Dec; :1-47
• CAS Registry Number:
  Ammonia (CAS RN 7664-41-7) ; Carbon dioxide (CAS RN 124-38-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Iowa, Iowa City
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  Effect of dust filtration control on CO2 and NH3 concentrations in a swine farrowing room
• End Date:
  20270929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:634842e44da49fef5d57b13cec5c71ea90c852ab0cf7f94102973c68763fa8d9d3c108b171a622738a02da2f15a5f630563fa4a38ab77b728703440d7a0cebaa
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/212140/cdc_212140_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.18 MB ]