Daily variations in odor and gas emissions from animal facilities

Seven different animal facilities were studied to determine daily variations in emissions of odor, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide. Air samples were collected every two hours over a 12-hour period during the day for odor and gas measurements from these facilities. A nursery building had the highest emission rates for odor and hydrogen sulfide (max: 50 OU·m³/s/m² and 140 μg/s/m², respectively). The naturally ventilated swine finishing building had the highest ammonia emission rate (max: 170 μg/s/m²). The data also showed that there was no significant difference in average ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations over the 12-h sampling period for all the animal facilities. Ventilation rates play a key role in determining the emission rates of aerial pollutants from animal buildings. However, when comparing the overall odor and gas emissions among animal buildings with different sizes, it is necessary to consider building sizes in addition to ventilation rates.