Concentration and size distribution of airborne particles in a broiler house

Airborne dust particles were sampled in a broiler house using the quartz crystal microbalance cascade impactor designed for the measurement of mass concentration and size distribution form 0.05 to 25 mu m. No significant difference was noticed in the dust concentration from morning to evening or at different sampling sites in the broiler house. The concentration of airborne dust particles decreased as the age of the chickens increased. Ratio of dust particles smaller than 0.8 mu m to the total dust ranged from 10 to 50%. The highest concentration of dust was in the particle size range of 3.2 mu m. The fogging system in use reduced the concentration of larger particles but not that of the smaller particles.