Project Number: 1265-12630-001-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Oct 01, 2005
End Date: Sep 30, 2010

Objective:
Develop methodologies to characterize and to quantify VOCs and odorants emitted from agricultural operations. Determine ozone creation potentials for pesticide formulation products and emissions from animal operations based on atmospheric chemical reactivity. Transfer this information to customer groups for use in the development of improved air quality management strategies. Utilize atmospheric chemical reactivity, olfactory detection, and emissions measurements to identify critical gas- and particulate-phase odorants likely to cause problems for communities near large animal operations. Provide this information to cooperators and customers for use in the development of improved odor-control technologies.

Approach:
Pesticide formulation products and emissions from animal operations will be analyzed to determine their VOC composition. These chemicals will be evaluated to determine their ozone creation potential using available models of atmospheric photochemical reactions. Results will provide objective recommendations for producers and regulators to effectively reduce emissions of reactive organic gases. Emissions from animal operations will be evaluated to establish a ranking system reflecting atmospheric persistence and human olfactory detection limits. Critical odorants will be identified, and controlled field testing will be carried out to test these predictions using paired chemical and olfactory measurements. Results of this research will be used to design more effective odor control technologies and improved management strategies.