Abstract: Odor emissions from animal production buildings is a critical local issue (NRC, 2003) for the livestock and poultry industries and people living and working near these operations. Even though federal and some states do not regulate odors, they remain a high priority for animal producers (for siting new and expanding existing operations) and for neighbors living near livestock and poultry operations. We will add the parameter of odor emission measurement to the upcoming National Air Emissions Monitoring Study (NAEMS) that is planned for startup this fall (2004) and will continue data collection for two years. Several swine and egg layer sites will be monitored under NAEMS, but more farms may be added including turkey, broiler, and dairy production facilities. Because the NAEMS project is being implemented to meet EPA regulations and that agency does not regulate odor, this important air parameter is not included in the study.

Our project would simply add standard human sensory odor measurements using olfactometry plus a new chemical analysis technique for the odorous compounds found in these emissions. The sensory and chemical methods would be correlated for a better understanding of odor emissions from animal buildings. Specifically there are three objectives for our proposal:

1. Collect and analyze air emissions from existing monitored (NAEMS) animal buildings sites for odor using standard olfactometry methods and identical methodology to obtain odor emission factors for animal production buildings that can be used in air dispersion models and for evaluating control technologies.

2. Develop a comprehensive chemical library of volatile organic odorants emitted by various animal systems represented in the NAEMS using a novel simultaneous, multidimensional mass spectrometry-olfactometry analysis of odor samples collected with SPME to identify and prioritize chemicals that are most significant odorants and to correlate this library with results obtained by standard olfactometry.

3. Disseminate this important information to stakeholders (producers, agencies, regulators, researchers, local government officials, consultants, and neighbors to livestock operations.