Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.

If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options.

In this study, we compared two particulate matter (PM) monitoring instruments, the tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM) and DustTrak, operating inside a commercial broiler house. The TEOM and DustTrak were placed side by side inside a commercial broiler house between two tunnel fans. Data were collected for 7 days with PM10 heads on both instruments when the flock was 4 weeks old. In the following week, data were collected with PM2.5 heads on both instruments for a total of 3 days. The TEOM recorded an average of 600 g/m3 higher concentration for PM10, and 25 g/m3 lesser concentration for PM 2.5 than the DustTrak. This would amount to difference in emission rate of 335 kg/year for PM10 and 16 kg/year for PM2.5 between the two instruments. This study confirms the previous findings by other researchers that the accuracy of measurement can vary significantly among instruments.