Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

1. Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) Ernest Ekong, MD,MPH PhD Student Epidemiology Walden University Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong

2. Stakeholders • Students, • Farmers Club (Such as The American Institute Farmers' Club, Farmersclub.com), • Local government officials, • Environmental health officers, • The Press (example New York Times, query.nytimes.com) Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong

3. Introduction I • I wish to make a position statement on the public health impact and risks of factory farming / Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). • I will start first by introducing you to what factory farming and CAFOs are before making my position statement. Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong

4. Introduction II • Factory farming is the practice of raising farm animals in confinement at high stocking density, where a farm operates as a factory — a practice typical in industrial farming. • This confinement at high stocking density enables the production of good quality and highest output at the lowest cost by relying on economies of scale, modern machinery, biotechnology, and ability to sell easily. It requires the active use of antibiotics and pesticides to stop the spread of disease and pestilence enhanced by these crowded living conditions. Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong

5. Introduction III • Animal Feeding Operation (AFO) is a location or facility where animals are kept 45 days of the year or more [and] structures or animal traffic prevents vegetative growth., while Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) is an animal feeding operation larger than a given size. • CAFOs refer to intensive livestock operations (ILOs)., and means a lot or facility, together with any associated treatment works, where both of the following conditions are met: • animals have been, are, or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period • Crops, vegetation, forage growth, or post-harvest residues are not sustained over any portion of the operation lot or facility. Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong

6. Public Health Impact and risksHealth effects • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), states that farms on which animals are intensively reared can cause adverse health reactions in farm workers. Workers may develop acute and chronic lung disease, musculoskeletal injuries, and may catch infections that transmit from animals to human beings. • Also Pesticides are used to control harmful organisms and they save farmers money by preventing product losses to pests. These pollute the foods and can cause health problems to consumers. Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong

7. Public Health Impact and risksHealth effects • CDC also notes that chemical, bacterial, and viral compounds from animal waste may travel in the soil and water. Residents near such farms report nuisances such as unpleasant smell, flies and adverse health effects. • Other pollutants linked with the discharge of animal waste into rivers and lakes, and into the air abound. Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong

8. Public Health Impact and risksHealth effects • The use of antibiotics may create antibiotic-resistant pathogens; parasites, bacteria, and viruses may be spread; ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus can reduce oxygen in surface waters and contaminate drinking water; pesticides and hormones may cause hormone-related changes in fish; animal feed and feathers may stunt the growth of desirable plants in surface waters and provide nutrients to disease-causing micro-organisms; trace elements such as arsenic and copper, which are harmful to human health, may contaminate surface waters. Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong

9. Public Health Impact and risksEnvironmental effects • CAFOs contribute to global environmental degradation, through the need to grow feed (often by intensive methods using excessive fertilizer and pesticides), pollution of water, soil and air by agrochemicals and manure waste, and use of limited resources (water, energy). • This form of farming in pigs and poultry is an important source of Green House Gas emissions. During storage on farm, slurry emits methane and when manure is spread on fields it emits nitrous oxide and causes nitrogen pollution of land and water. Poultry manure from factory farms emits high levels of nitrous oxide and ammonia. Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong

10. Public Health Impact and risksEnvironmental effects • Environmental impacts of factory farming can include: • Deforestation for animal feed production • Unsustainable pressure on land for production of high protein/high energy animal feed • Pesticide, herbicide and fertiliser manufacture and use for feed production • Unsustainable use of water for feed-crops, including groundwater extraction • Soil, water and air pollution by nitrogen and phosphorus from fertiliser used for feed-crops and from manure • Degradation of land (reduced fertility, soil compaction, increased salinity, desertification) • Loss of biodiversity, acidification, pesticides and herbicides • Reduction of genetic diversity of livestock and loss of traditional breeds Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong

11. Commentary and position statement on the public health impact and risks of factory farming/Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Waste from swine and other industrial farms contains parasites, viruses, and bacteria, including bacteria that can contribute to antibiotic resistance in humans. Very harmful bacteria and other pollutants commonly associated with hog manure in wells and waterways near Iowa hog confinements. Contaminants including pathogens, metals, antibiotics commonly fed to hogs, bacteria, nitrates and parasites have been found in manure lagoons and in surrounding wells, drainage ditches and underground water. Some of the bacteria Have been noted to be resistant to antibiotics. There have been some researches that found a compound in swine waste linked to gastric ulcers and possibly stomach cancer. Some studies have also found nitrates in drinking water close to the factories and this is related to development of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. These livestock farms waste enormous amounts of water which can compromise water needs for humans. They also produce a lot particulate matter, which consists of bug parts, dust, dander, hair, manure, and feed can carry viruses and bacteria and irritate the lungs just as cigarette smoke does. Affected people can also present with sore throats, headaches, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, dizziness, and members of the family were even blacking out. Also, the routine over application of waste has caused soil to become saturated with phosphorus that contributes to water quality problems. Antibiotic resistance is a serious concern possibly created by livestock factories. It is estimated that 40% of all antibiotics used in the United States are utilized in livestock production, and of this 40% ,80% is used as growth promoters. In view of all the foregoing, I advocate for a ban of the use of sub-therapeutic antibiotics that are also use for human therapy. I also recommend that CAFOs should be zoned away from residential areas. Signed: Ernest Ekong, MD, MPH, FACP Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong

12. References • Wikipedia, Factory Farming • Avery, A; Avery, D. The Environmental Safety and Benefits of Growth Enhancing Pharmaceutical Technologies in Beef Production. Churchville, VA: Hudson Institute, Center for Global Food Issues; 2007. [[accessed 4 August 2008]]. • Johnson, DE; Phetteplace, HW; Seidl, AF; Schneider, UA; McCarl, BA. Management variations for U.S. beef production systems: Effects on greenhouse gas emissions and profitability. Proceedings of the 3rd International Methane and Nitrous Oxide Mitigation Conference; 17–21 November 2003; Beijing, China. Beijing: China Coal Information Institute; 2003. pp. 953–961. • Fraser, David. Animal welfare and the intensification of animal production: An alternative interpretation, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2005. • Turner, Jacky. "History of factory farming", United Nations: "Fifty years ago in Europe, intensification of animal production was seen as the road to national food security and a better diet ... The intensive systems - called 'factory farms' - were characterised by confinement of the animals at high stocking density, often in barren and unnatural conditions." Public Health Impact and Risks of Factory Farming/CAFOs Ernest Ekong