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Abstract
This work investigated bioaerosol transfer from poultry farms in the Southeastern U.S. using passive and active methods. Proximity to the exhaust fan corresponded with high E. coli in passive samples (5.88 ± 0.51 log CFU/sampler), and a statistically significant reduction in E. coli was found at 100m (3.97 log CFU/sampler) (p = 0.0037), with a significant correlation with PM10 at 50 m. Active sampling confirmed elevated E. coli concentrations near poultry exhaust fans, with peak fecal indicator concentrations measuring 2.45 ± 0.70 log CFU/m³ (total coliforms) and 2.42 ± 0.73 log CFU/m³ (E. coli). Significant E. coli reductions were observed at 50 m (p < 0.0001) and 100 m (p = 0.0011), and coliforms/E. coli strongly correlated (p < 0.0001) with wind speed, gust speed, PM2.5 and PM10.