Monitoring of aerial pollutants emitted from swine houses in Korea

This on-site survey study was performed to determine the concentrations and emissions of aerial contaminants in the different types of swine houses in Korea and then to present beneficial information available for Korean pig producers to manage optimal air quality in swine house. The swine houses investigated in this research were selected based on three criteria; manure removal system, ventilation mode and growth stage of swine. Mean concentrations of aerial pollutants in swine houses were 8 ppm for ammonia, 300 ppb for hydrogen sulfide, 2 mg m^-3 for total dust, 0.6 mg m^-3 for respirable dust, 4 log(cfu m^-3) for total airborne bacteria and 3 log(cfu m^-3) for total airborne fungi, respectively. Mean emissions based on pig (liveweight; 75 kg) and area (m²) were 250 and 340 mg h^-1 for ammonia, 40 and 50 mg h^-1 for hydrogen sulfide, 40 and 50 mg h^-1 for total dust, 10 and 15 mg h^-1 for respirable dust, 1.0 and 1.3 log(cfu) h^-1 for total airborne bacteria and 0.7 and 1.0 log(cfu) h^-1 for total airborne fungi, respectively. In general concentrations and emissions of gases were relatively higher in the swine houses managed with deep-pit manure system with slats and mechanical ventilation mode than the different swine housing types whereas those of particulates and bioaerosol were highest in the naturally ventilated swine houses with deep-litter bed system.