Distribution of inorganic elements of poultry house dust.

Distribution of inorganic elements was measured in poultry house dust from five types of poultry houses during either winter, spring, or summer. With varied environmental conditions at the time of sampling, the levels of calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and aluminum were higher than the other elements found in dust samples from the five types of poultry houses. The most abundant element in poultry house dust was calcium. The level of this element samples from the mechanically ventilated house used for research purposes corresponded closely to the level found in the feed fed at sampling time. High zinc levels in layer houses may be attributed to either the abrasive actions of feathers and feet of layers against the galvanized wire cages on the high zinc content in feathers. The ash content of dust from the five types of poultry houses ranged from .31 to 3.54%. Air particulate counts for particles ranging in size from .5 to 10 micro meter were much higher in the layer house used for commercial purposes (ranged from 34.9 to 66.3 X 10(6) /m3) than in the layer houses used for research purposes (ranged from 5.8 to 9.8 X 10(6)/m3) than the level during summer (66.3 X 10(6)/m3). The commercial broiler house was dustier than the commercial layer house during the summer.