While the US Environmental Protection Agency imposes no federal requirements on CAFO air pollution, some states have regulations on odor management or abatement some also regulate pollutants, like hydrogen sulfide and dust. 2 Untreated waste from these operations creates air pollution, which can cause odors, health problems and can diminish the quality of life of people who live nearby and lower property values. In 2012, livestock and poultry on the largest CAFOs produced 369 million tons of animal waste - that’s almost 13 times more waste than that of the 312 million people living in the US. Each farm’s operations and management play some role in controlling emissions, and each farm (depending on its type) has different pollutants of concern. Industrial farming operations reduce air quality in varying ways and also contribute to greenhouse gases. Air emissions associated with large-scale animal waste application can subject workers and nearby communities to potent and potentially harmful odors and other types of air pollution. Fugitive pesticide emissions can harm farm workers and impact nearby fields. Soil plowing or tilling releases carbon into the atmosphere, as does burning fossil fuels to power farm machinery. The industrial model of farming crops in the US also contributes to air emissions. 1 Animal waste from all livestock – a leading source of air emissions on factory farms – contains odorous and potentially harmful hydrogen sulfide. Cattle emit methane through belching and farting and from their waste (a mid-sized dairy farm with 200 cows produces approximately 24,000 pounds of manure every day, while poultry farms can release high levels of ammonia from the fermentation of feces in the litter.
Air and Agriculture Pollution: The ProblemĬonfining a large number of animals in close quarters concentrates the air emissions generated by farm animals.
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