Definition of yearly emission factor of dust and greenhouse gases through continuous measurements in swine husbandry

The object of this study was to develop an accurate estimation method to evaluate the contribution of the various compartments of swine husbandry to dust and GHG (greenhouse gases, CO2, CH4 and N2O) emission into the atmosphere during one year of observation.A weaning, a gestation, a farrowing and a fattening room in an intensive pig house were observed in three different periods (Autumn–Winter, Springtime and Summer, monitoring at least 60% of each period (20% at the beginning, in the middle and at the end) of each cycle).During monitoring, live weight, average live weight gain, number of animals and its variation, type of feed and feeding time were taken into account to evaluate their influence on PM10, or the fraction of suspended particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 μm [Emission Inventory Guidebook, 2007. B1100 Particle Emissions from Animal Husbandry Activities. Available from: (accessed October 2008)] and to define GHG emission.The selected piggery had a ventilation control system using a free running impeller to monitor continuously real-time environmental and management parameters with an accuracy of 5%.PM10 concentration was monitored by a sampler (Haz Dust EPAM 5000), either continuously or through traditional gravimetric technique, and the mean value of dust amount collected on the membranes was utilized as a correction factor to be applied to continuously collected data.PM10 concentration amount incoming from inlets was removed from PM10 emission calculation, to estimate the real contribution of pig house dust pollution into atmosphere.Mean yearly emission factor of PM10 was measured in 2 g d−1 LU−1 for the weaning room, 0.09 g d−1 LU−1 for the farrowing room, 2.59 g d−1 LU−1 for the fattening room and 1.23 g d−1 LU−1 for the gestation room. The highest PM10 concentration and emission per LU was recorded in the fattening compartment while the lowest value was recorded in the farrowing room.CO2, CH4 and N2O concentrations were continuously measured in the exhaust ducts using an infrared photoacoustic detector IPD (Brüel & Kjaer, Multi-gas Monitor Type 1302, Multipoint Sampler and Doser Type 1303) sampling data every 15 min, for the 60% of the cycles.Yearly emission factor for CO2 was measured in 5997 g d−1 LU−1 for the weaning room, 1278 g d−1 LU−1 for the farrowing room, 13,636 g d−1 LU−1 for the fattening room and 8851 g d−1 LU−1 for the gestation room.Yearly emission factor for CH4 was measured in 24.57 g d−1 LU−1 for the weaning room, 4.68 g d−1 LU−1 for the farrowing room, 189.82 g d−1 LU−1 for the fattening room and 132.12 g d−1 LU−1 for the gestation room.Yearly emission factor for N2O was measured in 3.62 g d−1 LU−1 for the weaning room, 0.66 g d−1 LU−1 for the farrowing room, 3.26 g d−1 LU−1 for the fattening room and 2.72 g d−1 LU−1 for the gestation room.