Characterization of Cotton Gin Particulate Matter Emissions – Second Year

Due to EPA’s implemented of more stringent standards for particulate matter with an effective diameter less than 2.5 microns, the cotton ginners’ associations across the cotton belt, including the National, Texas, Southern, Southeastern, and California associations, agreed that there is an urgent need to collect gin emission data. The primary issues surrounding particulate matter regulations for cotton ginning industry are: 1) limited or lack of PM2.5 data; 2) potential over-prediction of current dispersion models; and 3) effects of sampler errors. In response to the gin association’s requests, a cotton gin particulate matter emissions sampling project was planned by USDA-ARS researchers, the Gin Associations, and State and Federal Regulators. During the second year of the sampling campaign, two gins were extensively sampled in Missouri and West Texas and lab analyses were conducted on more than 4000 samples. This paper highlights the individual sampling campaigns and summarizes the information collected.