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Odours represent a major challenge in agriculture, particularly for hog producers. Different companies have introduced additives for liquid manure, which they claim reduce odours by eliminating the compounds that are responsible for them. This statement is not scientifically documented and could create a false sense of security for workers. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) became interested in this problem, but from an environmental standpoint, and proposed collaboration with us to cover the main aspects of the use of such additives. Our collaboration has addressed the aspect of biosafety for workers.

The objectives of this study were to ensure that the use of additives does not create new hazards, and to measure the odours using standardised methods in order to evaluate a laboratory methodology or protocol to verify scientifically the additive manufacturers statements.

A set-up was developed at the AAFC research centre in Lennoxville, Quebec. The protocol and the four additives most commonly used were evaluated over a 12-month period. Physicochemical characteristics, gases, odours and viable bioaerosols were measured during this same period.

The results indicate that the four additives tested had no effect on the barrel system which represents shallow gutters under floorboards. The results also suggest that system configuration may have an impact on the additives effects. The odour analysis sampling techniques also need to be improved. Odour analyses should also be done at least in triplicate due to the experimental error related to dilution and human factors.