The development of industry-specific odor impact criteria for feedlots using models

Emissions from feedlot operations are known to vary by environmental conditions and few if any techniques or models exist to predict the variability of odor emission rates from feedlots. The purpose of this paper is to outline and summarize unpublished reports that are the result of a collective effort to develop industry-specific odor impact criteria for Australian feedlots. This effort used over 250 olfactometry samples collected with a wind tunnel and past research to develop emission models for pads, sediment basins, holding ponds, and manure storage areas over a range of environmental conditions and tested using dynamic olfactometry. A process was developed to integrate these emission models into odor dispersion modeling for the development of impact criteria. The approach used a feedlot hydrology model to derive daily feedlot pad moisture, temperature, and thickness. A submodel converted these daily data to hourly data. A feedlot pad emissions model was developed that predicts feedlot pad emissions as a function of temperature, moisture content, and pad depth. Emissions from sediment basins and holding ponds were predicted using a basin emissions model as a function of days since rain, inflow volume, inflow ratio (pond volume), and temperature. This is the first attempt to model all odor source emissions from a feedlot as variable hourly emissions on the basis of climate, management, and site-specific conditions. Results from the holding pond, sediment basin, and manure storage emission models performed well, but additional work on the pad emissions model may be warranted. This methodology mimics the variable odor emissions and odor impact expected from feedlots due to climate and management effects. The main outcome of the work is the recognition that an industry-specific odor impact criterion must be expressed in terms of all of the components of the assessment methodology.     

Industrial odor sources and air pollutant concentrations in Globeville,a Denver,Colorado neighborhood

An odor of unknown origin described as a “tar” or “asphalt” smell has become unbearable for many of Globeville, CO, residents over the past few years. Residents report during odor events burning eyes and throat, headaches, skin irritation, and problems sleeping. This study was undertaken to identify the potential sources of the odor and the concentrations of air pollutants making up the odor by conducting meteorological correlations and sampling for a panel of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur gases, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the neighborhood and near suspected sources. Wind speed and direction data collected every 1 min in the neighborhood indicate that when the odor is noticed, the community is directly downwind of a wood preservation facility and an asphalt roofing facility. Air samples collected during high-intensity odor events have shown concentrations of methylene chloride, hexane, toluene, naphthalene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, each at least two times higher than background concentrations. Naphthalene and the other PAHs are known pollutants emitted from wood treatment processes, and are known to have a coal tar odor. Naphthalene was present in a sample collected directly adjacent to the Koppers facility and was not present in any background samples. Single-compound odor and health thresholds, however, were never surpassed. Given the technical and regulatory challenges of sampling odors and controlling emissions, it is recommended that Globeville residents and neighboring industry pursue a “good neighbor policy” to solve the odor issue. Specific offending industrial processes could be identified for which there exist cost-effective control technologies that would reduce exposure to odors and air toxics in Globeville.

Implications: Meteorological correlations and samples of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur gases, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Globeville, CO, neighborhood and near suspected sources during odor events indicate potential industrial sources of a transient and noxious odor. Legislative approaches have proven unfruitful and no health or odor thresholds were typically violated. New approaches are warranted to address odor mixture effects in neighborhoods near industrial facilities.     

Contaminant Emissions from the Combustion of Fuels

In the past several years the use of cattle feeding lots for preparing cattle for market has developed into a large industry. These installations extend over much of the United States. Our lot, just outside of Memphis, Tennessee, is at present the only one in the area, but we feel that there will be others soon.

The control of odor in the cattle feeder industry is necessary if the operator does not wish to become the target of a nuisance or injunction suit. In one recent trip extending to Texas, then to California and back, numerous lots were inspected and this paper will present various types of odor control measures which were observed. The problem is one which can be controlled, but it is primarily dependent upon the willingness on the part of management to make the effort.

As a by-product of the cattle feeder lot, large quantities of manure are obtained and unless measures are taken to properly store this material, considerable odor can result. We believe that the use of dehydration in connection with the feeder lot will become more and more necessary, and it is our experience that this type of operation requires: 1. Good design of the dehydrating unit, 2. Careful control of the product flow, 3. An understanding of the proper method for storing the manure prior to its dehydration, and 4. Use of odor control methods to keep down those odors which would constitute nuisance to those living nearby. Various methods of odor control will be discussed.     

Accounting for averaging time in air pollution modeling

This paper examines the validity of a commonly used expression to estimate concentrations for averaging times that are much smaller than that corresponding to the model estimate. These “peak” concentrations, which can be several times larger than the model estimate, are required in applications such as odor assessment. We show that this expression cannot be justified, and that information on short-term concentrations is only contained in the probability distribution of time-averaged concentrations. The paper proposes a simple model of concentration time series to examine the effect of averaging time on concentration probability distributions. The results from the model are compared with previous theoretical and experimental studies.     

Analysis of groundwater contamination using concentration–time series recorded during an integral pumping test: Bias introduced by strong concentration gradients within the plume

When only few monitoring wells are available to assess the extent and level of groundwater contamination, inversion of concentration breakthrough curves acquired during an integral pumping test can be used as an alternative quantification method. The idea is to use concentration–time series recorded during integral pumping tests through an inversion technique to estimate contaminant mass fluxes crossing a control plane. In this paper, we examine how a longitudinal concentration gradient along a contaminant plume length scale affects the estimated inversed-concentration distribution and its associated mass flux. The analytically inversed-concentration distribution at the imaginary control plane (ICP) is compared to a numerically generated concentration distribution, treating the latter one as a “real contaminant plume” characterized by the presence of a longitudinal concentration gradient. It is found that the analytically inversed-concentration can lead to overestimation or underestimation of concentration distribution values depending on the transport time period and dispersivity values. At lower dispersivity values, with shorter transport time periods, the analytically inversed-concentration distribution overestimates the “real” concentration distribution.A better fit of the estimated concentration distribution to the “real” one is observed when the transport time period increases, i.e. when the advective front has already crossed the ICP. However, for higher dispersivity values, underestimation of the real concentration distribution is observed. Deviation of the inversed-concentration distribution from the “real” one is assessed for a site-specific concentration gradient term. A concentration gradient adjusted contaminant mass flux is thus formulated to evaluate groundwater contamination levels at a given time period through an ICP. This concentration gradient ratio can indicate whether the ICP is well positioned to evaluate accurately contaminant mass fluxes which are representative of groundwater contamination levels.     

Evaluating peats for their capacities to remove odorous compounds from liquid swine manure using headspace “solid‐phase microextraction”

Abstract

This paper reports on research designed to investigate the capacities of different highly characterized peats to remove odorous compounds from liquid swine manure (LSM). Peat types representing a wide range of properties were tested in order to establish which chemical and physical properties might be most indicative of their capacities to remediate odors produced by LSM. Eight percent slurries (of peat/LSM) were measured for odor changes after 24 hours using odor panel and GC/MS‐Solid‐phase microextraction (GC/MS‐SPME) analysis.

The GC/MS‐SPME and odor panel results indicated that, although all peats tested in this study were found to be effective at removing odor‐causing compounds found in LSM, some peats tended to work better than others. Overall, the peats that were the most effective at removing odor‐causing compounds tended to have lower bulk densities, ash contents, fulvic acids contents, and guaiacyl lignins contents,and higher water holding capacities, hydraulic conductivities, “total other lignins”; contents, hydrogen contents, carbon contents, and total cellulose contents.

GC/MS‐SPME analysis was found to be a reasonably inexpensive and efficient way of conducting this type of research. It allows one to identify a large number of the odor‐causing compounds found in LSM, and more importantly, to detect with some precision specific differences in the amounts of these compounds between peat types.     

Particulate matter emission rates from beef cattle feedlots in Kansas-reverse dispersion modeling

Open beef cattle feedlots emit various air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM) with equivalent aerodynamic diameter of 10 microm or less (PM10); however limited research has quantified PM10 emission rates from feedlots. This research was conducted to determine emission rates of PM10 from large cattle feedlots in Kansas. Concentrations of PM10 at the downwind and upwind edges of two large cattle feedlots (KS1 and KS2) in Kansas were measured with tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) PM10 monitors from January 2007 to December 2008. Weather conditions at the feedlots were also monitored. From measured PM10 concentrations and weather conditions, PM10 emission rates were determined using reverse modeling with the American Meteorological Society/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model (AERMOD). The two feedlots differed significantly in median PM10 emission flux (1.60 g/m2-day for KS1 vs. 1.10 g/m2-day for KS2) but not in PM10 emission factor (27 kg/1000 head-day for KS1 and 30 kg/1000 head-day KS2). These emission factors were smaller than published U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission factor for cattle feedlots.     

An Air Quality Data Analysis System for Interrelating Effects,Standards, and Needed Source Reductions: Part 13— Applying the EPA Proposed Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment to a Set of Asbestos Lung Cancer Mortality Data

Abstract

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA-90) list 189 hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) for which “safe” ambient concentrations are to be determined. The primary purpose of this paper is to develop two mathematical models, lognormal and logarithmic, that effectively express excess lung cancer mortality as a function of asbestos concentration for an example set of data and also to suggest using these two models for additional HAPs. The secondary purpose of this paper is to calculate a “safe” asbestos concentration by first assuming a default linear extrapolation (to one excess death per million people, as specified for carcinogenic HAPs). The resulting “safe” concentration is an impossible-to-achieve 1/1000 of present background asbestos concentrations. A letter to the editor and a response in this Journal issue use additional asbestos data that suggest that the “safe” concentration should be about 730 times higher than first calculated here and that a default nonlinear extrapolation should be used instead, with the “safe” concentration proportional to the desired mortality level raised to the 0.39 power. These results suggest that the most important problem in setting a “safe” concentration for each carcinogenic HAP is to determine the correct nonlinear extrapolation to use for each HAP.     

Characterization of the olfactory impact around a wastewater treatment plant: Optimization and validation of a hydrogen sulfide determination procedure based on passive diffusion sampling

A monitoring program based on an indirect method was conducted to assess the approximation of the olfactory impact in several wastewater treatment plants (in the present work, only one is shown). The method uses H₂S passive sampling using Palmes-type diffusion tubes impregnated with silver nitrate and fluorometric analysis employing fluorescein mercuric acetate. The analytical procedure was validated in the exposure chamber. Exposure periods of at least 4 days are recommended. The quantification limit of the procedure is 0.61 ppb for a 5-day sampling, which allows the H₂S immission (ground concentration) level to be measured within its low odor threshold, from 0.5 to 300 ppb. Experimental results suggest an exposure time greater than 4 days, while recovery efficiency of the procedure, 93.0 ± 1.8%, seems not to depend on the amount of H₂S collected by the samplers within their application range. The repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, is lower than 7%, which is within the limits normally accepted for this type of sampler. Statistical comparison showed that this procedure and the reference method provide analogous accuracy. The proposed procedure was applied in two experimental campaigns, one intensive and the other extensive, and concentrations within the H₂S low odor threshold were quantified at each sampling point. From these results, it can be concluded that the procedure shows good potential for monitoring the olfactory impact around facilities where H₂S emissions are dominant.

Implications: Passive samplers are very attractive tools to experimentally tackle a number of air pollution problems, especially those related to odor impact. Their small size and cost permit a denser sampling design and thus a more detailed spatial characterization than other techniques. On the other hand, the large inherent variability in passive sampler measures requires an uncertainty analysis of the chemical species and analytical procedures used.     

A comparison of contaminant plume statistics from a Gaussian puff and urban CFD model for two large cities

This paper quantitatively assesses the spatial extent of modeled contaminated regions resulting from hypothetical airborne agent releases in major urban areas. We compare statistics from a release at several different sites in Washington DC and Chicago using a Gaussian puff model (SCIPUFF, version 1.3, with urban parameter settings) and a building-resolving computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model (FAST3D-CT). For a neutrally buoyant gas source term with urban meteorology, we compare near-surface dosage values within several kilometers of the release during the first half hour, before the gas is dispersed beyond the critical lethal level. In particular, using “fine-grain” point-wise statistics such as fractional bias, spatial correlations and the percentage of points lying within a factor of two, we find that dosage distributions from the Gaussian puff and CFD model share few features in common. Yet the “coarse-grain” statistic that compares areas contained within a given contour level reveals that the differences between the models are less pronounced. Most significant among these distinctions is the rapid lofting, leading to enhanced vertical mixing, and projection downwind of the contaminant by the interaction of the winds with the urban landscape in the CFD model. This model-to-model discrepancy is partially ameliorated by supplying the puff model with more detailed information about the urban boundary layer that evolves on the CFD grid. While improving the correspondence of the models when using the “coarse-grain” statistic, the additional information does not lead to quite as substantial an overall agreement between the models when the “fine-grain” statistics are compared. The taller, denser and more variable building landscape of Chicago created increased sensitivity to release site and led to greater divergence in FAST3D-CT and SCIPUFF results relative to the flatter, sparser and more uniform urban morphology of Washington DC.     

Measurement of Ambient Odors Using Dynamic Forced-Choice Triangle Olfactometer

Certain odor control regulations specify use of the Scentometer for ambient odor measurement. This evaluation is usually performed by a single individual who is surrounded by the odorous environment to be measured. A method is desired where an ambient odor sample can be evaluated by an adequate size panel in an odor-free atmosphere. A dynamic forced-choice triangle olfactometer was designed and constructed to measure ambient odors. Teflon bags of 18 liter capacity collect a sample within 2-3 minutes which includes pre-flushing the bag. The sample is evaluated by a dynamic olfactometer equipped with 5 dilution levels (81×, 27×, 9×, 3× and undiluted sample). Three sniffing ports are provided at each dilution level to present dynamically one diluted odor stimulus and two odor-free air blanks. Each panelist is required to indicate which port contains the odor. Evaluation of one sample is routinely completed by a panel of 9 within less than 15 minutes. The odor threshold value (ED₅₀) for the panel is calculated by use of a simple table derived statistically. No significant loss of odor was observed in sampling and in storage of rendering odors up to 48 hours. Bags were reusable after flushing with odor-free air. Reproducibility of log ED₅₀ values by the same panel was within a σ = 0.10 log₁₀. Agreement in evaluating duplicate field samples by two different panels was within the same limits. Under controlled laboratory conditions, a Scentometer reading of D/T = 2 was equivalent to an ED₅₀ = 4.8; and D/T = 7 was equal to ED₅₀ = 9.5.     

A Reexamination of the Ozone Limiting Approach to Estimating Short-Term NO2 Concentrations

The partition and effective diffusion coefficients of formaldehyde were measured for three materials (conventional gypsum wallboard, “green” gypsum wallboard, and “green” carpet) under three relative humidity (RH) conditions (20%, 50%, and 70% RH). The “green” materials contained recycled materials and were friendly to environment. A dynamic dual-chamber test method was used. Results showed that a higher relative humidity led to a larger effective diffusion coefficient for two kinds of wallboards and carpet. The carpet was also found to be very permeable resulting in an effective diffusion coefficient at the same order of magnitude with the formaldehyde diffusion coefficient in air. The partition coefficient (K _ma) of formaldehyde in conventional wallboard was 1.52 times larger at 50% RH than at 20% RH, whereas it decreased slightly from 50% to 70% RH, presumably due to the combined effects of water solubility of formaldehyde and micro-pore blocking by condensed moisture at the high RH level. The partition coefficient of formaldehyde increased slightly with the increase of relative humidity in “green” wallboard and “green” carpet. At the same relative humidity level, the “green” wallboard had larger partition coefficient and effective diffusion coefficient than the conventional wallboard, presumably due to the micro-pore structure differences between the two materials. The data generated could be used to assess the sorption effects of formaldehyde on building materials and to evaluate its impact on the formaldehyde concentration in buildings.

Implications: Based on the results of this study, the sink effects of these commonly used materials (conventional and “green” gypsum wallboards, “green” carpet) on indoor formaldehyde concentration could be estimated. The effects of relative humidity on the diffusion and partition coefficients of formaldehyde were found to differ for materials and for different humidity levels, indicating the need for further investigation of the mechanisms through which humidity effects take place.     

Characterization of the olfactory impact around a wastewater treatment plant: optimization and validation of a hydrogen sulfide determination procedure based on passive diffusion sampling

A monitoring program based on an indirect method was conducted to assess the approximation of the olfactory impact in several wastewater treatment plants (in the present work, only one is shown). The method uses H2S passive sampling using Palmes-type diffusion tubes impregnated with silver nitrate and fluorometric analysis employing fluorescein mercuric acetate. The analytical procedure was validated in the exposure chamber. Exposure periods ofat least 4 days are recommended. The quantification limit of the procedure is 0.61 ppb for a 5-day sampling, which allows the H2S immission (ground concentration) level to be measured within its low odor threshold, from 0.5 to 300 ppb. Experimental results suggest an exposure time greater than 4 days, while recovery efficiency of the procedure, 93.0+/-1.8%, seems not to depend on the amount of H2S collected by the samplers within their application range. The repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, is lower than 7%, which is within the limits normally accepted for this type of sampler. Statistical comparison showed that this procedure and the reference method provide analogous accuracy. The proposed procedure was applied in two experimental campaigns, one intensive and the other extensive, and concentrations within the H2S low odor threshold were quantified at each sampling point. From these results, it can be concluded that the procedure shows good potential for monitoring the olfactory impact around facilities where H2S emissions are dominant.     

Preventive control of odor emissions through manipulation of operational parameters during the active phase of composting

Better understanding of the effects of key operational parameters or environmental factors on odor emission is of critical importance for minimizing the generation of composting odors. A series of laboratory experiments was conducted to examine the effects of various operating conditions on odor emissions. The results revealed that airflow rates that were too high or too low could result in higher total odor emissions. An optimal flowrate for odor control would be approximately 0.6 L/min.kg dry matter with intermittent aeration and a duty cycle of 33%. Temperature setpoint at 60°C appeared to be a turning point for odor emission. Below this point, odor emissions increased with increasing temperature setpoint; conversely, odor emissions decreased with increasing temperature setpoint above this point. With regard to the composting material properties, odor emissions were greatly affected by the initial moisture content of feedstock. Both peak odor concentration and emission rate generally increased with higher initial moisture content. Odor emission was significant only at moisture levels higher than 65%. An initial moisture level below 45% is not recommended due to concern with the resulting lower degree of biodegradation. Biodegradable volatile solids content (BVS) of feedstock had pronounced effect on odor emissions. Peak odor concentration and emission rate increased dramatically as BVS increased from 45% to 65%, thus, total odor emission increased exponentially with BVS.     

Can we trust odor databases? Example of t- and n-butyl acetate

The US EPA has exempted t-butyl acetate from VOC regulations, which increases the likelihood that it may replace other solvents in some settings. This investigation probes its chemosensory properties. In Study 1, subjects (n = 29) sought to detect the odor of t-butyl acetate and of n-butyl acetate in forced-choice testing of stable concentrations, analytically confirmed. Subjects sniffed from cones with a high enough volumetric flow to insure against dilution by nonodorized air. A subject made hundreds of judgments, enough for a psychometric function for each material. The points of 50% detection above chance (“threshold”) occurred at 8 and 2 ppb for t-butyl acetate and n-butyl acetate, respectively. In study 2, subjects (n = 26) sought to detect vapor with the eye via chemesthesis (sensory irritation) in 10-s exposures. Detection at 50% occurred at 177 and 113 ppm for t-butyl acetate and n-butyl acetate, respectively, more than 10,000 times above that for odor detection. The protocols produced results of uncommon precision compared to those in often-misleading archival databases. The nose exhibits much higher sensitivity than the databases indicate. The collections rarely exhibit accuracy better than ±1000%. Collection of accurate data for a VOC can ironically bring on stricter regulation for just it, a situation that calls for a strategy to improve the database by collection of new data, importation of better data, and development of quantitative structure–activity modeling.     

Soil Bed System for Control of Rendering Plant Odors

Biofilter technology has been applied recently to treating rendering odors. Soil beds are one class of biofilter but as yet have not been used for this application. Although wet scrubbers have been a traditional method of odor control, their capital and operating costs are impacting more severely. Soil bed systems are less expensive to install and operate.

A soil bed system was installed at a rendering plant in Arizona and has been in operation since September 1983. The soil bed treats 1100 m³/h (650 cfm) of cooker noncondensables with a surface area of 420 m²(4500 ft²). The pressure drop across the soil bed is 5 cm (2 in.) of water. Odor sensory testing with the MTRI forced-choice triangle dynamic olfactometer indicates an odor removal efficiency of 99.9 percent is obtained with the soil bed. Soil bed odor removal efficiency is equivalent to or superior than that for incineration or scrubbing of high intensity odors from the rendering process. Recent experience during this past winter indicates a soil bed is a viable method for operation in a northern climate with severe winter weather conditions. Also, monitoring of the leachate from a soil bed indicated no contamination.     

The Australian Air Quality Forecasting System: The Use of Green Scenarios of Motor Vehicle Usage as an Educational Tool

Abstract

The Australian Air Quality Forecasting System (AAQFS) is one of several newly emerging, high-resolution, numerical air quality forecasting systems. The system is briefly described. A public education application of the air quality impact of motor vehicle usage is explored by computing the concentration and dosage of particulate matter less than 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM₁₀) for a commuter traveling to work between Geelong and Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, under “business-as-usual” and “green” scenarios. This application could be routinely incorporated into systems like AAQFS. Two methodologies for calculating the dosage are described: one for operational use and one for more detailed applications. The Clean Air Research Programme-Personal Exposure Study in Melbourne provides support for this operational methodology. The more detailed methodology is illustrated using a system for predicting concentrations due to near-road emissions of PM₁₀ andapplied in Sydney.     

Battelle Forecasts U.S. To Reach $61.8 Billion R&D Funding in 1980

A technique for locating a source of odor which is considered to be a community air pollution nuisance, PONG2, was described in Paper I. Selected members of the public are asked to record the times at which they notice an unpleasant odor. A local meteorological station supplies the Pasquill stability and the wind-speed and direction for the locality at the time of complaint. This data is used to determine a region upwind of the location of the complaint in which the source of odor may lie. By overlaying the different regions generated by different complaints, PONG2 identifies the most probable location of the odor source. In this paper an enhanced form of PONG2 is used to identify odor sources when several may be involved. Simulations suggest a rule of thumb for deciding when a location identified by PONG2 should be considered to be a likely source of odor. The technique is applied to data from a survey conducted near Melbourne, Australia.     

Comparison of photochemical behavior of various humic substances in water: III. Spectroscopic properties of humic substances

Spectral absorption coefficients and fluorescence quantum efficiencies were determined for humic substances from a variety of sources. Specific absorption coefficients k_h, for humic substances at wavelengths λ from 300 to 500 nm can be closely described by the relation Ae^B(450-λ), where A and B are constants. When the k_h values are in units of liter (mg organic carbon)^?1meter^?1 and wavelength λ is in nanometers, mean values of A and B for aquatic humus in the 12 water bodies studied were 0.6±0.3 and 0.014±0.001, respectively. Spectral absorption coefficients of dissolved organic matter in blackwater rivers, of the “yellow substance” in the sea, and of fulvic acids extracted from soils are very similar. Fluorescence quantum yields of humic substances were low and more variable than the absorption coefficients, ranging from 0.0005 to 0.012 with excitation at 350 nm (average of 0.0045±0.0038 for 6 waters). Fluorescence spectra for the humic substances were remarkably similar with maximum emission at 430 to 470 nm. Results of this study can be used to compute photolysis rates of pollutants as a function of depth in natural water bodies.     

Design of Sampling Schedules

Concern with the statistical precision associated with certain pollutant sampling schedules led to comparison of two sampling schemes, designated as “modified random” and “systematic” sampling methods. A nearly uninterrupted body of data representing six years of sampling provided a basis from which to perform hypothetical “sampling” by the two methods. Comparison of results shows that the systematic method generally gave better results. The method is very simple; ft entails the selection of a sampling interval (other than 7 days or multiple of 7), the selection (randomly) of an initial sampling date, and regular sampling at the selected interval thereafter.