Total dust (Figure I; P<O.OO I) and endotoxin (Figure 2; P<O.OOt) concentrations declined significantly at\u00a0a distance from the bam. Comparison of mean ranks indicated that at both study sites there was no\u00a0significant difference between the dust and endotoxin concentrations 600m downwind compared to
\n2400m upwind but the concentrations at the outlet were significantly higher than the upwind and\u00a0downwind locations. Location did not have a significant effect on DNA concentrations (P=0.0733; Figure\u00a03) around the swine barns. Season did not have an impact on total dust (P=0.3496), endotoxin (P=0.3982)\u00a0or DNA (P=0.8117) concentrations downwind from swine barns.\u00a0The results support the hypothesis that the concentration of total dust and endotoxin 600m downwind
\nfrom the barns is not statistically different from the “fresh air” upwind from the barn. However, neither\u00a0distance from the barn nor season had a statistical impact on DNA. Microorganisms are ubiquitous,\u00a0therefore more detailed research is required to attribute the endotoxin and DNA found in the air\u00a0downwind from the barns to the swine operation. The data shows that contaminants expelled from the two\u00a0Saskatchewan swine barns, are diluted to that of background levels 600m downwind from the bam. It\u00a0may be suggested that airborne contaminants downwind from swine operations are not necessarily a\u00a0direct result of the swine facility itself, especially in agriculturally active areas. In addition, many
\nenvironmental factors may have an impact on the distribution of the airborne contaminants. For the\u00a0purposes of this study it was assumed that the activity within the barn was consistent and would not have\u00a0an impact on the output of contaminants from the barn, however the activities within the barn could in\u00a0fact have an impact on the types of contaminants and the amount of contaminants exiting the barn.<\/p>\n