Animal Feeding Operations
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The health threats posed by large animal feeding operations are enormous. The toxic emissions caused by millions of gallons of manure and the hundreds of thousands of hogs, cows, and chickens confined in small areas put people at risk for everything from E Coli to respiratory problems. Families living near the hog factories suffer acutely. |
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These neighbors, who either live on farms that have been in their families for generations, or who moved to the country for the clean air, are now confronted by a toxic soup when they open their windows or go outside. Hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, along with other chemicals that bear the odor of rotting meat and feces are all part of the air emissions that neighbors regularly have to breathe. In addition, the millions of gallons of manure and urine that are stored and eventually spread, untreated, onto fields that are in close proximity to neighbors’ property, carry pathogens, such as Escherichia coli, and chemical contaminants that can severely impact the health of the neighbors, and even cause death.
Contamination of the groundwater by this untreated waste also can cause people who use water from the contaminated aquifer to sicken, even though they are some distance from the original source of the pollution.
The chemicals and other compounds in the air emissions can produce irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, and other toxicological effects.
Children, the elderly, individuals with chronic or acute pulmonary or heart disorders are at particular risk.
More than 24 odorous chemicals (often referred to as odorants) have been identified in emissions from confined animal facilities. Some of these very odorous compounds are known to be toxic to the nervous system in sufficient concentration. Residents living near these facilities suffer increased rates of neurobehavioral symptoms such as depression.
Death is a very real threat. Infant mortality is significantly higher near animal factories than away from them, and hogs can transmit potentially fatal diseases to humans, such as hepatitis and methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus.
If you or a loved one or friend has endured such problems from a large animal feeding operation, contact us at 816-931-2230.
