site background
In 1920, Arthur Perdue started his poultry company that would eventually become the poultry empire we know today. Starting small, they began by selling baby chicks to other farmers. Arthur soon gained a reputation for producing the best quality chicks around. In the 1940's, a poultry disease destroyed most of the company's flocks and threatened the family business. In the 1950's, Frank Perdue (son of Arthur) took over the business and incorporated it as A.W. Perdue & Son. They now began working with local farmers, supplying chickens for processing which they would sell at live auctions. Starting in 1960, the Perdue company began to realize the significance in the grain and oil seed business. Investing in feed ingredients, grain receiving and soybean processing, construction on their first processing plant began. By 2006, Perdue Agribusiness established itself as an international player by increasing their exports of feed and grain. Later, Perdue started to support farmers with seeds, organic fertilizers, agronomy services, and expanding opportunities for specialty seeds and cover crops. Perdue continues to expand and incorporate more aspects of the poultry industry. In 2020, they celebrated a century of business.
what is happening now?
Starting as just a grain elevator and storage facility, the feed processing facility in Salisbury, MD. now sources, purchases, and processes agricultural commodities, and offers products such as grains, soybean meal, blended food ingredients, and oils for the food industry. With the growth of available services has come a expansion in locations. In 2016, Perdue began construction of a soybean processing plant in Lancaster County, PA. This growth has contributed to a growing amount of issues however. As the production rates continue to grow at multiple locations, emissions are increasing as well. Hexane, the most abundant emission of Perdue Feed and Seed locations, is categorized as a hazardous air pollutant. In 2020 alone, Perdue Seed and Feed released 359,042 lbs of hexane into the atmosphere.
what the heck is hexane?
Hexane's primary use is to extract edible oils from seeds and vegetables, but can also be used as a solvent for glues, varnishes and inks, and as a cleaning agent. The EPA has described hexane as a "colorless volatile liquid that is insoluble in water and highly flammable," and has been designated as a hazardous air pollutant in the Clean Air Act (CAA). Acute exposure to hexane can cause dermatitis, irritation of eyes and throat, dizziness, nausea, and headaches. Chronic exposure is linked to numbness in extremities, muscle weakness, blurred vision, and fatigue.
what is being done?
There seems to be little concern over hexane emissions in Salisbury, MD, but the same cannot be said for those living near Conoy Township, Lancaster County, PA. In 2015, a proposal for the construction of another Perdue processing plant was contested by the residents of Hellam Township, located southeast and downwind of Conoy township, the proposed location for the new Perdue plant. Hellam residents are concerned over hexane emissions and the effect it might have on those living nearby. An alternative, hexane-free process was suggested, but without success. In 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection gave the green light for construction on the Perdue plant. What is more, they allowed Perdue to continue to use hexane as a solvent for extracting oils, although with strict limits on emissions. A small win it may have been, but it shows progress with bringing awareness and action to industrial agricultural pollution.
are there alternatives?
Yes! There certainly are alternatives. In the process of oil extraction, hexane can be replaced by Green Solvents such as terpenes and ionic liquids, which are cost effective and are able to extract oil in an eco-friendly way. There are other methods of extracting oil as well: Enzyme Mediated extraction and Aqueous Assisted Enzyme extraction are two methods that support environmentally friendly oil production.
additional resources
- https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/hexane.pdf
- https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/demogreportpdf.aspx?report=acs2019
- https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/ejscreen_SOE.aspx