title: Biological exhaust air treatment systems as a potential microbial risk for farm animals assessed with a computer simulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Livestock operations are under increasing pressure to fulfil minimum environmental requirements and avoid polluting the atmosphere. In regions with high farm animal densities, new farm buildings receive building permission only when biological exhaust air treatment systems (BEATS) are in place, such as biofilters. However, it is currently unknown whether BEATS can harbour pathogens such as zoonotic agents, which are potentially emitted via the purified gas. Because BEATS are located very close to the livestock building, it is assumed that BEATS-related microorganisms are aerially transported to farm animals via the inlet system of the ventilation system. To support this hypothesis, a computer simulation was applied to calculate the wind field around a facility consisting of a virtual livestock house and an adjacent biofilter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under the chosen wind conditions (speed and direction), it can be shown that turbulences and eddies may occur in the near surrounding of a livestock building with an adjacent biofilter. Consequently, this might cause the entry of the released biofilter's purified gas into the barn, including possible microorganisms within this purified gas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If field investigations verify the results of the simulations, counter-measures must be taken to ensure biosecurity on farms with BEATS.
authors: University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Landscape Architecture, Unit of Animal Hygiene and Food Safety, Oldenburger Landstraße 62, 49090 Osnabrück, Germany. j.seedorf@hs-osnabrueck.de
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Seedorf
mesh_terms: D000389:Air Conditioning / Q000295:instrumentation; D061808:Air Filters / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000295:instrumentation; D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005858:Germany; D058751:Livestock / Q000382:microbiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D014691:Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation; D014919:Wind; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission
keywords: airborne pathogens; animal primary production; biological exhaust air treatment; contamination; good hygiene practice; wind field simulation