IngentaConnect Bacterial Plume Emanating from the Air Surrounding Swine Confinem...

Authors: Green, Christopher¹; Gibbs, Shawn²; Tarwater, Patrick²; Mota, Linda²; Scarpino, Pasquale¹

Source: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Volume 3, Number 1, Number 1/January 2006 , pp. 9-15(7)

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of bacteria in the air plume immediately upwind at 25 m and downwind at locations 25 m, 50 m, 100 m, and 150 m from a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO). It was hypothesized that this would give insight into determining the maximal distance that bacterial organisms release from a CAFO could travel, which would be important in determining the optimal siting distance for future CAFO in relation to high population areas. The Andersen two-stage sampler was used to collect all of the bacterial samples from the animal confinement facilities. The data show a marked increase in bacterial CFUs/m 3 inside the facility (18,132 CFU/m 3 average) versus upwind (63 CFU/m 3 average) and a steady downwind decrease out to approximately 150 m. Staphylococcus aureus was found to account for 76% of the organisms recovered. We conclude that the optimal placement of a swine CAFO would be at least 200 m from a residential area.

Keywords: bacteria; bioaerosols; confined/concentrated animal feeding operation; Staphylococcus aureus

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/15459620500430615

Affiliations: 1: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, at the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 2: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Texas

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Bacterial Plume Emanating from the Air Surrounding Swine Confinement Operations