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Imprint
Examination of Legionella in agricultural exhaust air purification systems
Project
Project code: TI-AT-08-PID2326
Contract period: 01.09.2020
- 31.08.2023
Purpose of research: Applied research
Currently, more than 1000 exhaust air treatment plants are in operation in Germany to reduce emissions in pig and poultry farming. Under certain operating conditions and circumstances, colonization of these air scrubbers with Legionella can not be completely ruled out. We will check that. Within the framework of the Forty-second Ordinance on the Implementation of the Federal Immission Protection Act (Ordinance on Evaporation Cooling Systems and Wet Separators (EvaporkühlV) – 42. BImSchV), it is necessary to ensure that systems are constructed and operated in such a way that contamination of the cooling or washing water by microorganisms, in particular legionella, is avoided according to the state of the art in order to prevent health risks for the population. The BMUB predicts that approximately 20,000 to 30,000 evaporative cooling systems could fall within the scope of the regulation. Although air purification systems are not used for evaporative cooling and are operated differently, it has not yet been sufficiently clarified whether these systems fall within the scope. Exhaust air purification systems are used in livestock farming to separate odours, dusts, ammonia and bioaerosols from the exhaust air of stables. Exhaust air scrubbers, chemo scrubbers, riesle bed reactors and biofilters as well as multi-stage systems with a combination of biological, chemical and physical processes are used. There are currently more than 1,200 exhaust air purification systems in pig and poultry farming in Germany. In some federal states, there are decrees requiring the use of exhaust air purification systems in animal husbandry facilities that require permits under emission protection law. In the course of the recasting of TA Luft, corresponding requirements are planned nationwide. The background to this regulation is the health risk to the population from legionella. The question is whether legionella occurs in certain types of exhaust air purification systems, reproduce under certain circumstances, accumulate in process water, and if water droplets leave the exhaust air scrubbers, so legionella-containing bioaerosols can also enter the environment.
Section overview
Subjects
- Agricultural Engineering Plant Production
- Agricultural Technology Animal Production
- Process engineering
