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This work was supported by the project Life -MEGA [LIFE18 ENV/IT/000200] , which has received funding from the Life programme of the European Union. The content, discussion and opinions of this article are fully attributable to the authors and may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission.

Analysis of institutional authors

Ruiz-Colmenero, MartaAuthorBallega, Ariadna BAuthorAndon, MiquelAuthorCerrillo, MíriamAuthorFàbrega, EmmaAuthorBonmati, AugustAuthor

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May 5, 2024
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Air treatment technologies in pig farms. Life cycle assessment of dry and wet scrubbers in Northern Italy and Northeastern Spain

Publicated to:Science Of The Total Environment. 922 171197- - 2024-04-20 922(), DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171197

Authors: Ruiz-Colmenero, Marta; Costantini, Michele; Ballega, Ariadna; Zoli, Michele; Andon, Miquel; Cerrillo, Miriam; Fabrega, Emma; Bonmati, August; Guarino, Marcella; Bacenetti, Jacopo

Affiliations

Inst Agrifood Res & Technol IRTA, Torre Marimon, Caldes De Montbui, Barcelona, Spain - Author
Producció Animal. IRTA Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentarias - Author
Sostenibilitat en Biosistemes. IRTA Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentarias - Author
Univ Milan, Dept Environm Sci & Policy, Via Giovanni Celoria 10, I-20133 Milan, Italy - Author

Abstract

Over the years, different solutions were developed and tested to reduce the emissions of ammonia and particulate matter from the livestock facilities. The environmental performances of these solutions were not always evaluated in detail. This study examines the environmental footprint of pig production at farm gate, with a focus on emissions from housing. Using Life Cycle Assessment, the environmental impact of pig production in a transition farm in Spain and in two finishing farms in Italy was evaluated considering three scenarios (one baseline and two of them involving an air treatment technology: wet scrubber or dry scrubber). The study goal was to quantify the environmental footprint of pig production in different scenarios, identify key environmental hotspots, and to assess impact reduction efficiency due to the two assessed technologies, analyze the environmental trade-offs that come with the use of these technologies, and identify potential for improvements. Both wet and dry scrubbers showed potential for reducing emissions in pig housing, affecting environmental impact categories related to air pollutants such as particulate matter, acidification and eutrophication. However, there were trade-offs between emissions reduction and categories related to energy and resource use. The infrastructure and consumables required to operate the scrubber added to the impacts compared to the baseline. The dry scrubber showed a more favorable balance between emission reduction and trade-offs. In this regard, results were similar for the Spanish and Italian farms, although there were slight variations. Scrubbers had a

Keywords

AmmoniaAmmonia emissionAnimalsConservation of natural resourcesEmissionsEnvironmental impactEnvironmental-impactFarmsImpact mitigationItalyLife cycle stagesLivestockMitigationParticulate matterSpainSwine

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Science Of The Total Environment due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2024 there are still no calculated indicators, but in 2023, it was in position 31/358, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Environmental Sciences. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-07-16:

  • WoS: 7
  • Europe PMC: 1

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-16:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 44 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/2872

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Italy.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (RUIZ COLMENERO, MARTA) .