Attributing PM sources within a swine production facility via PMF modeling of particle size distribution data

Particulate matter (PM) in swine barns poses a significant health risk to both animals and caretakers, yet the contributions of individual sources remain poorly understood. This study measured PM concentrations, as well as particle size distributions (PSDs), in a wean-to-finish production room and a farm office using a Grimm 11-D optical particle counter (OPC) during both summer and winter. Source attribution was conducted through PMF modeling of obtained PSD data. PM concentrations, including PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and total suspended particles (TSP), were higher in the production room during winter and lower in the office during summer. In all scenarios, PMF modeling effectively identified the potential sources of PM and quantified their relative contributions. In the production room during winter, the primary contributors to TSP were animal feed (41.6%), settled dust (29.7%), and feces (15.0%). Although PM introduced through ventilation and infiltration was a minor contributor to overall TSP, it accounted for a substantial portion of submicron particles. Additionally, an Alphasense OPC-N3 sensor was evaluated as a low-cost alternative to the Grimm 11-D for PM source attribution and yielded promising results. This study supports the use of PSD-based PMF modeling as a cost-effective approach for PM source attribution in animal production environments and is anticipated to facilitate animal agriculture air quality management.