Fine particle measurements inside and outside tunnel-ventilated broiler houses

Emissions from animal feeding operations have become a growing concern. Although many studies describe occupational exposures and exhaust concentrations associated with animal facilities, very little information has been provided about the ambient air around the houses. This study investigates real-time and primarily 24-h time-integrated levels of particulate matter <= 2.5 mu m in diameter inside and outside (up to 500 ft from the house) of commercial tunnel-ventilated broiler houses on a farm in northeast Georgia. None of the 24-h particulate matter measures collected when the houses were tunnel ventilated exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency's 24-h National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 65 mu g/m(3).