Environmental impact of pig farming

Farms often pump their animal waste directly into a large lagoon, which has environmental consequences.
Pigs in intensive farming

The environmental impact of pig farming is mainly driven by the spread of feces and waste to surrounding neighborhoods, polluting air and water with toxic waste particles.[1] Waste from pig farms can carry pathogens, bacteria (often antibiotic resistant), and heavy metals that can be toxic when ingested.[1] Pig waste also contributes to groundwater pollution in the forms of groundwater seepage and waste spray into neighboring areas with sprinklers. The contents in the spray and waste drift have been shown to cause mucosal irritation,[2] respiratory ailment,[3] increased stress,[4] decreased quality of life,[5] and higher blood pressure.[6] This form of waste disposal is an attempt for factory farms to be cost efficient. The environmental degradation resulting from pig farming presents an environmental injustice problem, since the communities do not receive any benefit from the operations, and instead, suffer negative externalities, such as pollution and health problems.[7] The United States Agriculture and Consumer Health Department has stated that the "main direct environmental impact of pig production is related to the manure produced.[8]

  1. ^ a b Nicole, Wendee (2017-03-01). "CAFOs and Environmental Justice: The Case of North Carolina". Environmental Health Perspectives. 121 (6): a182–a189. doi:10.1289/ehp.121-a182. ISSN 0091-6765. PMC 3672924. PMID 23732659.
  2. ^ Wing, S; Wolf, S (2017-03-01). "Intensive livestock operations, health, and quality of life among eastern North Carolina residents". Environmental Health Perspectives. 108 (3): 233–238. doi:10.1289/ehp.00108233. ISSN 0091-6765. PMC 1637983. PMID 10706529.
  3. ^ Thorne, Peter S. (2017-03-01). "Environmental Health Impacts of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: Anticipating Hazards—Searching for Solutions". Environmental Health Perspectives. 115 (2): 296–297. doi:10.1289/ehp.8831. ISSN 0091-6765. PMC 1817701. PMID 17384781.
  4. ^ Schiffman, S. S.; Miller, E. A.; Suggs, M. S.; Graham, B. G. (1995-01-01). "The effect of environmental odors emanating from commercial swine operations on the mood of nearby residents". Brain Research Bulletin. 37 (4): 369–375. doi:10.1016/0361-9230(95)00015-1. ISSN 0361-9230. PMID 7620910. S2CID 4764858.
  5. ^ Bullers, Susan (2005). "Environmental Stressors, Perceived Control, and Health: The Case of Residents Near Large-Scale Hog Farms in Eastern North Carolina". Human Ecology. 33 (1): 1–16. doi:10.1007/s10745-005-1653-3. ISSN 0300-7839. S2CID 144569890.
  6. ^ Horton, Rachel Avery; Wing, Steve; Marshall, Stephen W.; Brownley, Kimberly A. (2009-11-01). "Malodor as a Trigger of Stress and Negative Mood in Neighbors of Industrial Hog Operations". American Journal of Public Health. 99 (S3): S610–S615. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.148924. ISSN 0090-0036. PMC 2774199. PMID 19890165.
  7. ^ Edwards, Bob (January 2001). "Race, poverty, political capacity and the spatial distribution of swine waste in North Carolina, 1982-1997". NC Geogr.
  8. ^ "FAO's Animal Production and Health Division: Pigs and Environment". www.fao.org. Retrieved 2017-04-23.