Using a Vegetative Environmental Buffer to Reduce the Concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds in Poultry-House Atmospheric Emissions

Ground-level ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react with hydroxyl radicals and nitrogen oxides in the presence of ultraviolet light. Research has typically focused on the release and control of VOCs from hydrocarbon processing, however, agricultural activities, such as poultry production, can also be VOC sources and potentially contribute to ozone pollution. Therefore, this study examines the emission of C2 - C6 VOCs emitted from poultry houses and the use of a vegetative environmental buffer (VEB) as a potential mitigation strategy. Sampling campaigns were conducted at two farms, one with and one without a VEB. Of the nine compounds measured, methanol, ethanol, and acetone were the primary VOCs emitted and had the largest ozone formation potential (OFP). A significantly larger decrease in the OFP for methanol was observed as a function of distance from the poultry house at the farm with the VEB as compared to the farm without the VEB. These results suggest that besides a visual barr...