At NCH Life Sciences, our mission is to develop probiotic solutions that produce measurable improvements in digestive health. By striving to deliver healthier air and water, we help customers increase production efficiency while reducing environmental impact. Our commitment to our customers goes beyond our biological products, with product lines spanning from chlorine control, wastewater management and odor control.
Odor control is an integral part of biosecurity and plays a significant role in animal and human health. The three primary sources of odor on farms are animal housing, manure storage, and land application. Unmanaged odor on farms can lead to respiratory issues, headaches, irritation in the eyes and nose, drowsiness, and in some cases, death in both animals and humans. In addition, odor on farms can travel to surrounding residencies under specific wind patterns, which leads to fines on farms. These are the reasons why it’s essential to know the source of the odor.
Possible odor sources in animal housing
Wet Litter, Poor Ventilation, Manure, Poor Farm Management, Improper Bedding, Dust, Improper Monitoring, Spoiled or Moldy Feed, Carcasses, Poor infrastructure, Dirty water management
Possible odors produced by manure decomposition that will spread by land application if not properly monitored and distributed
Ammonia (NH₃) has a sharp, pungent odor and is lighter than air, resulting from both anaerobic and aerobic activity. Its exposure limit is 10 ppm, and it can irritate the eyes and nose, with asphyxiating effects at high concentrations.
Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has a distinct rotten egg smell, is heavier than air, has a low odor threshold, and is soluble in water. With an exposure limit of 10 ppm, it is toxic and can cause symptoms ranging from headache, dizziness, and nausea to unconsciousness and death.
Methane (CH₄), which is odorless and lighter than air, is produced from anaerobic activity. At an exposure limit of 1,000 ppm, it can cause headaches, is an asphyxiant, and becomes explosive when mixed with air at concentrations between 5-15%.
Carbon dioxide, which is also odorless but heavier than air, has an exposure limit of 5,000 ppm. It can lead to drowsiness and headaches and can be asphyxiating in high concentrations.
Volatile organic acids have a strong odor, particularly under anaerobic conditions, whereas aerobic conditions yield a lower odor potential.
Lastly, phenolic compounds, with a notably strong odor, include p-cresol, which has a lower odor threshold than hydrogen sulfide. Phenolic compounds are found in raw manure, with concentrations rising in anaerobic environments.
Source: The University of Missouri’s Department of Agricultural Engineering
Controlling each source of odor is crucial for farm productivity and for human and animal health. Contact NCH Life Sciences (lifesciences@nch.com) to learn about our odor control product line.
