HYDROGEN SULFIDE EMISSIONS FROM A MECHANICALLY-VENTILATED SWINE BUILDING DURING WARM WEATHER

Summary: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentration in and emission from a new, grow-finish swine building with a deep pit was measured during three summer months. Hydrogen sulfide concentration, ventilation rate, temperature and pig number were continuously measured or recorded from June to September. Average daily mean (ADM) indoor H2S concentration was 173±21 ppb ranging from 38 to 536 ppb. The highest recorded 12-min H2S concentration was 1,624 ppb. The ADM H2S emission rate from the building, which had from 887, 21.9 kg pigs to 874, 98.6 kg pigs, was 582±57 g/d, or 7.0±0.9 g/d per 500 kg of pig weight. The mean H2S emission rate per 500 kg was much higher than values found in the literature. The H2S concentration was inversely proportional to ventilation rate. The H2S emission rate was directly proportional to ventilation rate, pig weight and indoor temperature.