Analysis of Odor Substances and Particle Composition for Characterization of Fine Dust Near Livestock Farms

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the concentration of odor substances and fine dust in areas where livestock farms are densely located, and to perform a correlation analysis of these concentrations to characterize the composition of fine dust. The mass concentration of fine dust in the areas tested was 33.6~46.68 μ/m3 for particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10) and 16.85~32.82 μ/m3 for particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5). These concentrations were higher than those in most of the neighboring areas. Ammonia concentration was measured in the range of 2.82~11.42 μ/m3. The concentrations of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), methyl ethyl ketone and toluene, were 0.24~11.82 μ/m3, and 3.08~30.61 μ/m3, respectively. Composition analysis showed that fine dust was composed of 8.2~10.2% carbon, 0.3~1.7% sulfur, and 0.1~0.9% nitrogen. Anions were detected at a higher concentration than cations, and SO42- was measured at the highest concentration. Of the four most prevalent metals detected (i.e., Al, B, Cu, and Zn), Al showed the highest concentration in both PM10 and PM2.5, and accounted for the majority of the total metal component (84.7% and 82.2%, respectively). A correlation analysis of find dust with ammonia and VOC (methyl ethyl ketone and toluene) concentrations showed that ammonia generated from livestock facilities affected the formation of fine dust in nearby areas. VOCs emitted from nearby industrial facilities were also considered to contribute to the constituents of fine dust.