Heart-Centered Humans for Animals' Rights and Protection
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Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and Farming's Impact on the Environment and Health
For many decades livestock farming has evolved from family-owned small farms to large farms funded by corporations and government subsidies. These farms are now known as concentration animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and can range in size from small (less than 300 animals) to very large (over 1,000 animals) [1, p.1].
"Animals are crammed in CAFOs by the thousands or tens
of thousands, often unable to breathe fresh air, see the light of day, walk outside, peck at a plants or insects, scratch the earth, or eat a blade of grass.'[2]
• The most pressing public health issue associated with CAFOs stems from the amount of manure they produce. CAFO manure contains a variety of potential contaminants [3, p.2].
• CAFO manure can contain plant nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, pathogens such as E. coli, growth hormones, antibiotics, chemicals used as additives to the manure or to clean equipment, animal blood, silage leachate from corn feed, or copper sulfate used in footbaths for cows.
• Many farms no longer grow their own feed, so they cannot use all the manure they produce as fertilizer. [3, p.2]
Groundwater Contamination
• "Runoff from land application of manure, leaching from manure that has been improperly spread on land, or through leaks or breaks in storage or containment units. Private well waters and public groundwaters become contaminated, and groundwater flows into rivers and streams [3, p.3].
• Pathogens survive longer in groundwater that is cool
and not exposed to the sun [3, p.4]
• Former CAFO land still contains ammonia which transforms into dangerous nitrates when exposed to air. Nitrates travel quickly into groundwater, then reach private and public water sources [3, p.4].
• Infants are especially susceptible to elevated nitrates in drinking water harm. Nitrates oxidize iron in hemoglobin
(in red blood cells carrying oxygen), and hinders the ability of infants' blood to carry oxygen [3, p.4].
• Low blood oxygen in adults leads to birth defects, miscarriages, and poor health.
• Nitrates are linked to stomach and esophageal
cancers [3, p.4].
Surface Water
• Agriculture is the most major cause of polluted lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, especially from CAFO manure. Storms, floods, an soil erosion exacerbate pollutants being disbursed. [3, p.4]
• Ammonia from CAFOs 'causes oxygen depletion from water, killing aquatic life [3, p.4].
• CAFO runoffs cause algal blooms, and numerous environmental disasters as algae overgrowth blocks sunlight from underwater plants, dominates other resources, killing aquatic plants and habitats for aquatic lives. Bacteria which thrive on dead plants also consume aquatic oxygen, leading to aquatic dead zones now proliferating on the planet.
• Hormones from CAFOs change the reproductive habits
of aquatic species, including decreased fertility of female fish [3. p.5].
• Fecal bacteria contamination has been responsible
for the closure of many beaches and restrictions
on shellfish operations [3, p.5].
Air Pollution
• Major noxious pollutants: ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and particulate matter [3, p.6].
• Children are at greatest risk because they consume up
to 50% more air than adults. Those living near CAFOs have higher rates of asthma and bronchitis [3, p.5-6].
Laws
• The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, also known as the Superfund Act), the Emergency Planning & Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), and the Clean Air Act (CAA).
• "The EPA passed a rule that exempts all CAFOs from reporting emmissions under CERCLA" [3, p.7].
• "Only CAFOs that are classified as large are required to report any emission event of 100 pounds of ammonia or hydrogen sulfide or more during a 24-hour period locally or to the state under EPCRA " [3, p.7].
• "The EPA has also instituted a voluntary Air Quality Compliance Agreement in which they will monitor some CAFO air emissions, and will not sue offenders but instead charge a small civil penalty" [3, p.7].
CAFO Odors
• Worse than those from smaller livestock farms due to manure pits or lagoons. Odors are spread through wind and dust up to six miles [3, p.7].
• Those in surrounding communities need to keep their windows closed, which can be difficult for those without air conditioning in hot weather [3, p.8].
• People stay indoors, children cannot play outside and some may be kept home from school [3, p.8].
• Mental health deterioration and increased smell sensitivity, impairments of mood and neurophysciatric abnormalities (balance or memory) from noxious chemicals [3, p.8].
Insect Vectors
• Various flies and mosquitos proliferate in CAFO waste and water [3, p.8].
• Insects agitate livestock and negatively affect animals' health [3, p.8].
• Flies near poultry contribute to proliferation of drug-resistant bacteria [3, p.8].
• Flies are attracted to human food, spreading pathogens that cause illnesses, such as dysentery and diarrhea.
• Mosquito infestations can spread zoonotic diseases such
as West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, and equine encephalitis [3, p.8].
Antibiotics
• Essential when raising confined livestock, help animals' save energy for growth otherwise needed to fight off infections [3, p.10].
• Nontherapeutic doses increase growth rates [3, p.10].
• 70% of all antibiotics and related drugs used in the U.S. are given to livestock as feed additives [3, p.10].
• Contributes to antibiotic-resistant microbes, causing antibiotics to be less effective in humans [3, p.10].
• Resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria are transferred from animals to humans through the handling or eating of meat [3, p.10].
• Antibiotics are present in manure that pollutes water supplies and leeches into groundwater or surface water
[3, p.10].
FEEDING OPERATIONS
References
1. Hribar, Carri (Author) and Schultz, Mark (Editor). 2010. Understanding Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and Their Impact on Communities. National Association of Local Boards of Health. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/docs/understanding_cafos_nalboh.pdf
2. CAFO: The Tragedy of Industrial Animals Factories. cafothebook.org
3. Hribar and Schultz.
POLLUTION & HUMAN HEALTH RISKS
CAFOs, large and small, contaminate water supplies, air, causing diseases, destroying property, killing aquatic life, and causing antibiotic resistance.