Aerial pollutants on a pig farm in peri-urban Beijing, China

The study was carried out to evaluate the airborne gases and suspended particulate matter concentrations in the pig barns of a commercial pig farm situated in the peri-urban area of Beijing, China. The measurements followed the natural pig life-stages namely: gestation, farrowing, weaning, and fattening. In order to accomplish these objectives, three different measurement devices were employed: (i) color diffusion tubes, (ii) a portable gas measuring device, and (iii) a dust measuring instrument. Due to the rotation of the devices in the different sampling places, the measurements were performed at different time periods during the months of the summer and winter season in Beijing. The pig farm had a capacity of 15 000 pigs per year and the manurial system was identified as