Air Quality and Atmospheric Change Resource Concerns

1. United States Department of AgricultureNatural Resources Conservation Service Air Quality and Atmospheric Change Resource Concerns

2. http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/news/06aug_nv/dustbowl_historic.pdfhttp://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/news/06aug_nv/dustbowl_historic.pdf

3. Air QualityContaminates of Greatest Concern Related to Agriculture • Odors • Particulate matter • Ammonia • Ozone • Greenhouse gases

4. Sources and Identification of Odors • Animal manure odors are considered a nuisance (not a health issue) • Odors associated with animal operations are most often related to manure management practices • Odor is produced primarily from anaerobic decomposition of manure

5. Techniques to Manage Manure Odor • Composting • Disinfection (kill anaerobic bacteria) • pH adjustment (high pH) • Masking agents • Aeration • Drying • Solid separation from liquid • Mixing

6. Odor Plume Transported by Wind

7. Windbreaks Can Reduce Odor • Dilution and dispersion of odor by mixing of the air • Deposition of odorous dusts by slowing the velocity of the air • Collection of the chemical constituents of odor and odor particles on tree leaves

8. Effects of Windbreak

9. Particulate Matter (PM) • 3 categories: Fine, Inhalable Coarse, and Larger PM • Fine PM = PM2.5 (<=2.5 micrometers) • Greatest health effects; mainly combustion and chemical reactions; some dust • Inhalable Coarse PM = PM10 (2.5 - 10 μm) • Mostly mechanically generated; dust (geologic); some health effects • Larger PM (> 10 μm) • Larger particles have fewest health effects

10. Human Hair 70 microns 70 microns PM10 PM2.5 Particulate Matter (PM)

11. Larger particles (PM10) deposited in the upper respiratory tract Smaller particles (PM2.5) deposited deep into the lung Particles deposited in the lower region of the lung may accumulate, react, or be absorbed

12. EPA Particle Matter (PM) Standards • PM 10 microns • Annual average revoked1 • 24-hr average not to exceed 150 ug m-3 • PM 2.5 microns • Annual average not to exceed 15 ug m-3 • 24-hr average not to exceed 352 ug m-3 1. Revoked due to lack of evidence linking to long-term exposure to health problems (EPA, Dec. 2006) 2. Reduced from 65 ug m-3 to 35 ug m-3 (EPA in Dec. 2006)

13. Some Health Effects of Small Particle Pollution • Increased respiratory symptoms • Decreased lung function • Aggravated asthma • Development of chronic bronchitis • Irregular heartbeat • Premature death in people with heart or lung disease

14. PM-10 Non-Attainment Areas http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/greenbk/mappm10.html

15. Example of an Agricultural Source of PM 10

16. Air Quality – PM2.5 • PM2.5 is typically emitted from combustion, but can also be emitted from chemical reactions with ammonia • Since there are no exemptions from the PM2.5 standards, agricultural sources could be subject to additional regulatory requirements: • Ammonia emissions from livestock operations • Prescribing burning

17. PM-2.5 Non-Attainment Areas http://www.epa.gov/air/oaqps/greenbk/mappm25.html

18. Areas that currently exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Annual PM2.5 PM-2.5 Non-Attainment Areas Illinois EPA must develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to address these non-attainment areas

19. Emission Source of PM2.5 Source: IEPA

20. Prescribed Burning Agricultural Sources of PM 2.5

21. Quantities of Ammonia (NH3) from Agricultural Sources • Represent about 95% of all ammonia emissions from human sources Source: Canadian Government http://www.agr.gc.ca/policy/environment/air_01_e.phtml

22. Ammonia Facts • Ammonia is a precursor or contributor to PM2.5 • Gas-to-particle conversion plays an important role in the total mass of PM2.5 in the atmosphere • Reaction between acids in the atmosphere and ammonia produces ammonium salts

23. Ammonia Facts • Reaction between acids in the atmosphere and ammonia produces ammonium salts • In mammals the mixing of urine and fecal material produces ammonia outside of the animal • In poultry this mixing to produce ammonia occurs inside of the animal

24. Ammonia Facts • Ammonia emissions from agricultural operations are not currently regulated in the Federal Clean Air Act • California requires ammonia control in PM2.5 non-attainment areas • Idaho requires dairies with more than 100 tons of annual ammonia production to be regulated • In some states, ammonia serves as a proxy for odor issues

25. Ammonia Source

26. Ozone 8-hr Non-attainment Areas http://www.epa.gov/ozonedesignations/nonattaingreen.htm

27. How can ground-level ozone affect your health? • Irritate your respiratory system • Reduce lung function • Aggravate asthma • Inflame and damage cells that line your lungs • Aggravate chronic lung diseases • Cause permanent lung damage

28. Ground Level Ozone Sources

29. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) Nitrogen monoxide (NO) Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is produced in combustion of fossil fuels Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemical compounds that have high enough vapor pressure under normal conditions they will vaporize and enter the atmosphere (e.g. solvents, gasoline, and methane) Ozone Precursors

30. Ozone Facts • Ozone is an invisible gas • Ozone is not normally emitted directly into the are; it forms in the atmosphere by chemical reaction • Ozone needs sunlight to form • Ozone doesn’t linger longer – it quickly reacts with its surroundings • Ozone usually dissipates after sunset

31. Ozone Injury to Vegetation • Ozone effects on plants are initiated in the leaves when the gas enters through the stomata, disrupting cellular processes and suppressing growth and yield.

32. Midwest Ozone Concentrations • Ozone has risen steadily in the rural Midwest since the 1960s. • Summer concentrations in central Illinois average 50 to 60 (ppb). • Soybeans are very sensitive to ozone, showing yield decreases when levels exceed 30 ppb. • Studies in growth chambers suggest that current ozone levels in Illinois lower soybean yields by about 10%. Source: Ray Knighton – USDA/CSREES

33. The Greenhouse Effect

34. Carbon Dioxide Concentration

35. Primary Greenhouse Gases Related to Agriculture • Carbon Dioxide (CO2): • Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), and decomposition of solid waste, trees and wood products. Carbon dioxide is also removed from the atmosphere (or “sequestered”) when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle. • Methane (CH4): 23 x CO2 • Methane is emitted from livestock and from flood soils (rice production) and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills. • Nitrous Oxide (N2O): 296 x CO2 • Nitrous oxide is emitted as part of the denitrification process, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste.

36. Oxidized Mercury