Characterizing amino compounds in indoor poultry farms: air quality and its impact on workers and chickens in Canadian egg farms†

Abstract

Indoor air pollution is a common problem in poultry and many livestock facilities. Small airborne amino chemicals (AACs), such as ammonia and short-chain amines, are common air pollutants in poultry farms. An elevated concentration of AACs can reduce the indoor air quality (IAQ) of the farm, affecting the production of chicken eggs, the welfare of the animals, and the occupational health of producers. Recent studies have identified ammonia and small volatile organic pollutants in poultry farms. However, the characterization of large AACs, such as uric acid (UA) and large amines, has rarely been reported, although many of them have been proposed as the main form of biological nitrogen waste. Our goal is to provide information on organic amino pollutants in poultry farms. This project includes an online aerosol sample using a particle-into-liquid sampler (PILS) and an offline chemical analysis using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). With a selective characterization of AACs in a poultry farm, we found that UA and suspended particles are correlated with onsite management practices, such as barn lights. Among the three major indoor phases (gas, particles, and litter) in the facility, we report the phase partition of UA, NH₃, NH₄⁺, and large amines. The observation of these indoor pollutants has implications on the formation of dust particles and ammonia, and the results can benefit the poultry industry in solving persistent IAQ problems.