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Ayala Terrones – Assessing Air Quality Impacts of Industrial Poultry Farms in Rural North Carolina: A Community Engaged Air Quality Modeling Approach ​

 

Assessing Air Quality Impacts of Industrial Poultry Farms in Rural North Carolina: A Community Engaged Air Quality Modeling Approach ​ (2024)

Undergraduates: Dannys Ayala Terrones, Azucena Maldonado Aguilar


Faculty Advisor: Amanda Northcross
Department: Environmental Sciences and Engineering

Robeson County is the largest county in North Carolina by land area, with a total population of 116,530 residents comprised of a majority of people of color. The county has witnessed a substantial rise in Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), particularly in poultry production, with the number of chickens and turkeys increasing by 24 million since 2012. These operations emit air pollutants that pose risks to local air quality and human health. Utilizing AERMOD, an atmospheric dispersion model, this research project aims to assess the impact of CAFOs on local air quality. A literature review was conducted using databases like Pubmed, Proquest, and Science Direct focused on AERMOD's application in community-engaged research. Additionally, community concerns, including odor, waste regulation lapses, and the proliferation of poultry CAFOs, were analyzed. GIS mapping revealed a higher concentration of poultry CAFOs compared to swine farms in the southern region of the county. Significant CAFOs were identified by analyzing wind patterns, proximity to residents, estimated animal count, and waste produced. The literature review revealed limited research exists on AERMOD's use in modeling CAFOs through community engagement. Moreover, the availability of air pollution data from poultry farms may constrain emission estimates. As poultry farms in Robeson County increase, understanding air pollution from these facilities becomes crucial for community decision-making and advocacy. Further research will involve identifying specific sources of concern within CAFOs, modeling individual facilities using publicly available data, assessing potential health impacts from air pollutant estimates, and consulting with the local community regarding concerns related to CAFOs.