Concentrations of Particulate Matter Emitted from Large Cattle Feedlots in Kansas

• Published in: Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995) Vol. 61; no. 10; pp. 1026 - 1035
• Main Authors: Guo, Li, Maghirang, Ronaldo G., Razote, Edna B., Trabue, Steven L., McConnell, Laura L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pittsburgh, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.10.2011; Air & Waste Management Association; Air and Waste Management Association; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Agriculture; Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis; Algorithms; Ammonia; Animals; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Atoms & subatomic particles; Beef; By-products; Cattle; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Distribution; Dust; Emissions; Environmental aspects; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Feedlots; Feeds; Kansas; Manures; Measurement; Moisture content; Nitric oxide; Outdoor air quality; Particle Size; Particles; Particulate Matter - analysis; Pollution; Studies; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Weather; Wind; Kansas; United States; USA, Kansas; Cascade impactor; Samplings; Air quality; Pollutant emission; Coarse particle; Concentration measurement; Particle size distribution; Sampler; Humidity; Water content; Aerosols; Rural area; Air pollution; Sampling
• ISSN: 1096-2247; 2162-2906
• DOI: 10.1080/10473289.2011.599282

Particulate matter (PM) emitted from cattle feedlots are thought to affect air quality in rural communities, yet little is known about factors controlling their emissions. The concentrations of PM (i.e., PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and total suspended particulates or TSP) upwind and downwind at two large cattle feedlots (KS1, KS2) in Kansas were measured with gravimetric samplers from May 2006 to October 2009 (at KS1) and from September 2007 to April 2008 (at KS2). The mean downwind and net (i.e., downwind − upwind) mass concentrations of PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and TSP varied seasonally, indicating the need for multiple-day, seasonal sampling. The downwind and net concentrations were closely related to the moisture content of the pen surface. The PM 2.5 /PM 10 and PM 2.5 /TSP ratios at the downwind sampling location were also related to the moisture content of the pen surface, humidity, and temperature. Measurement of the particle size distribution downwind of the feedlot with a cascade impactor showed geometric mean diameter ranging from 7 to 18 μm, indicating that particles that were emitted from the feedlots were generally large in size.