Use of low cost sensors to inform particulate and gaseous emissions from intensive poultry facilities

Roheela Yasmeen1,2, Zulfiqar Ali2, Sean Tyrrel3, Zaheer Ahmad Nasir3

1Lahore Garrison University, DHA Phase VI, Lahore

2University of the Punjab, Lahore

3School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, UK

Summary

There has been steady increase in intensive agricultural practices such as poultry production to meet food demands of growing population worldwide. Simultaneously, concerns about emissions (including dust, gases and bioaerosols) from such facilities and their environmental, climatic and public health impact have increased (Witkowska and Sowińska, 2017). A range of factors involving building design, use and management can significantly influence emission from such facilities. The knowledge on temporal characteristics of emissions from such facilities is limited. The availability of data on nature, magnitude and spatio-temporal characteristics of emissions is vital to propose proportionate regulations in order to manage public health risks as well as allowing food production. Among wide range of detection and quantification methods low cost sensors offer real-time data along with portability, affordability and ease of use. The aim of the present study was to investigate temporal characteristics of particulate and gaseous emissions from various poultry facilities by using low cost sensors.