@article{ref1,
title="Hydrogen sulfide assessment in shallow-pit swine housing and outside manure storage",
journal="Journal of agricultural safety and health",
year="2003",
author="Chenard, L. and Lemay, S. P. and Lague, C.",
volume="9",
number="4",
pages="285-302",
abstract="In Saskatchewan, some recent incidents have lead  us to believe that certain manure management activities can potentially release  high concentrations of H2S into the atmosphere of shallow-pit barns. The  objectives of the monitoring project reported here were to evaluate worker  exposure to H2S during the completion of the following tasks: emptying of  in-barn shallow manure pits, power washing of barn rooms, and agitation and  emptying of outdoor manure storage facilities. In-barn monitoring was performed  in gestation, farrowing, nursery, and grow-finish sections in the summer of 2001  and the winter of 2002 on four different farms. Plug pulling can generate very  high concentrations of H2S. The maximum values recorded during some of the  monitored events reached 1,000 ppm. The H2S released as a plug is being pulled  does not follow a predictable pattern when considering the level that will be  reached, the concentration variations during the event, and the time at which  the peak concentration will be observed. Power washing generated lower H2S  concentrations than plug pulling. However, as the task to be performed generally  takes time, the 15 min time-weighed average of 15 ppm (STEL) can be reached  after the task started and can be exceeded for a long period of time, which for  some of the monitored events was more than 30 min. Finally, monitoring at the  storage facilities showed that the risks of exposure to excessive H2S  concentrations during the agitation and emptying of outside manure storage  facilities were very limited. Results from this study suggest that pig  production buildings involving short-term storage of liquid manure may present  H2S exposure risks that have been underestimated until now. All workers should  be provided with an H2S monitor and safety equipment to ensure that workers are  protected when the H2S concentration rises. As well, engineering controls have  to be developed to prevent H2S formation in the manure or H2S emission into the  worker/pig space.",
language="",
issn="1074-7583",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}