Intensive Livestock Operations, Health, and Quality of Life among Eastern North Carolina Residents

Abstract

People who live near industrial swine operations have reported decreased health and quality of life. To investigate these issues, we survreyed residents of three rral communities, one in the vicinity of an approximately 6,000-head hog operation, one in the vicinity of two intensive cattle operations, and a third rural agricultural area without livestock operations that use liquid waste management systems. Trained interviewers obtained information about health symptoms and reduced quality oflife during the previous 6 months. We In contrast to the many studies of occupational exposures of swine confinement-house workers (9-25), only a few field studies have investigated the health effects of lower level environmental exposures. In a study of residents near hog facilities in North Carolina, Schiffman et al. (26) reported that persons exposed to odors from intensive hog operations experienced "more tension, more depression, more anger, more fatigue, and more confusion" than a group of unexposed persons. A study in Iowa (7) compared physical and mental health symptoms among people residing within a 2-mile radius of a 4,000-head swine operation and a control group in an area with no intensive livestock operation. Those who lived in the vicinity of the intensive hog operation reported higher frequencies of 14 of 18 physical health symptoms, especially respiratory symptoms. The Iowa study did not find an excess of mental health symptoms but, in contrast to the North Carolina study (26), it was not designed to evaluate symptoms at the time that odors were present.The present study addressed a number of issues raised by previous research. Unlike studies of volunteers, the sample was drawn systematically from defined populations. To increase the levels of participation and prevent exclusions based on literacy or the ability to participate in a longer study, we did not ask participants to keep a diary or respond to questions at the times that airborne emissions from livestock operations were noticeable. Instead, we asked questions about the number of times that participants experienced the symptoms of interest during the previous 6 months. Because mood disturbance and mental health effects may be acute responses to the presence of odors, we focused on physical health and quality of life rather than on short-term mood changes. We achieved high levels of participation in the study by establishing cooperative relationships with local community based organizations in planning and conducting the research.This study compared health symptoms in residents of three North Carolina communities, one in the vicinity of an intensive hog operation, one in the vicinity of two intensive cattle operations, and a third in a rural agricultural area where no livestock operations used liquid waste management systems. Although the primary motivation for the study came from an interest in airborne emissions from swine operations, the inclusion of people residing near cattle operations afforded an opportunity to examine possible health effects f...

Abatement control and regulation of emission and ambient concentration of odour and allergens from livestock farming

“…Quality of life, as indicated by the number of times residents could not open their windows or go outside even in nice weather, was found to be similar for residents in the vicinity of a cattle operation or far away from a livestock unit but greatly reduced among residents near a hog operation (Wing and Wolf, 2000). More wheezing has been observed among pupils at schools in the vicinity of confined swine feeding operations (Mirabelli et al, 2006).…”

“…Airborne particles usually act as a vector for pathogenic bacteria, viruses, endotoxins, odours material, gases and liquid substances (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, 1997). Viable bacteria and vira carried by the dust particles may have greater ability to survive and thereby constitute a local health risk (Wang, Z. et al 1997;Wing, S. and S. Wolf, 2000).…”

Medicaid Outpatient Utilization for Waterborne Pathogenic Illness following Hurricane Floyd

“…12 The potential contamination of groundwater sources by fecal waste pathogens is of great concern in eastern North Carolina because this area has a high dependence on well water for drinking. 13 In addition, "groundwater contamination is a particular problem in eastern North Carolina because the water tables are high and many wells are shallow or unlined." 13 Two days after Hurricane Floyd struck the North Carolina coast, hog waste lagoons ruptured, which led to the dispersal of animal waste to the groundwater, surface water, and residential well water supplies.…”

“…13 In addition, "groundwater contamination is a particular problem in eastern North Carolina because the water tables are high and many wells are shallow or unlined." 13 Two days after Hurricane Floyd struck the North Carolina coast, hog waste lagoons ruptured, which led to the dispersal of animal waste to the groundwater, surface water, and residential well water supplies. 11,14,15 The extensive flooding also led to the drowning of thousands of hogs and poultry.…”

Concentrated Swine Feeding Operations and Public Health: A Review of Occupational and Community Health Effects

“…A study in North Carolina compared reported physical symptoms and quality-oflife perceptions among 155 individuals from three rural communities: a rural community with no livestock facilities within 2 miles; a similar group of households within 2 miles of a dairy facility; and another group within 2 miles of a swine CAFO (213). The frequencies of reported symptoms in the three groups were compared with adjustment for sex, age, smoking status, and employment.…”