Size fractionated particulate matter emissions from a broiler house in Southern Ontario, Canada

In 1999, the National Emission Inventory and Project Task Group developed particulate matter emission inventories for the Canadian poultry industry using Canadian poultry census data and emission factors for all types of poultry operations based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and British Columbia/Greater Vancouver Regional District data [MOE. A Compendium of Knowledge on Fine Particulate Matter in Ontario. Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) Review Report (as released to the CRESTech/NERAM expert panel). PIBS 3798e, 1999.]. Recent studies conducted on various poultry operations suggested that the emission factors currently in use could lead to a substantial underestimation of the airborne PM levels in Canada generated by these poultry industries.This study measured real time PM concentrations and house ventilation rates from a commercial broiler operation in southern Ontario in order to develop characteristic PM emission factors and inventories. The averaged particulate matter emission factors obtained were 0.11 ± 0.004, 0.13 ± 0.005, and 0.56 ± 0.02 kgPM (1000 birds)− 1 (production cycle)− 1 for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively. The yearly emissions for the studied commercial broiler operation were 22, 27, 114 kgPM (year)− 1 for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively. The estimated PM emissions for Canada from the broiler sector are 382.4 ± 13.9, 472.7 ± 16.3, and 2025 ±69.9 tonnesPM/year for PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively.