Nicolette G. Hahn, Attorney, Waterkeeper Alliance, 828 South Broadway, Suite 100, Tarrytown, NY 10591, 914-490-9893, nicolettehahn@msn.com

Abstract

This is a summary of over 100 studies relating to the danger to human health from animal confinement operations. Although such operations now are the dominant form of meat and dairy production, this body of scientific studies presents a strong case that animal confinement operations cause health maladies, especially among the industry’s workers. In particular, this research shows that confinement operations produce air laden with toxic gases, airborne bacteria, particulate matter, and endotoxins. These contaminants are getting into the lungs of people who come in contact with the operations, especially workers and, as a result of these exposures, workers show substantially elevated levels of several respiratory ailments. People living in the vicinity of these animal operations are at risk for the same maladies as the workers. Because the federal government treats these operations as “farms,” it does not regulate them under OSHA, leaving tens of thousands of workers and rural residents unprotected from these health risks. This situation urgently needs to be addressed by the public health community. Moreover, we argue that confinement livestock production is not a wholesome way of producing food. The animals raised in these operations are literally bathed in toxic dusts and fumes for their entire lives, resulting in the meat industry’s extreme dependence on antibiotics and other drugs. We conclude that the public health community should advocate for smaller scale, non-confinement production, which poses far fewer health risks to people and animals and produces more wholesome food, produced with fewer pharmaceuticals.

Learning Objectives:

• The primary objectives of this presentation are to make public health officials aware of the threats to human and animal health inherent in confinement animal production (for food) and to suggest alternatives to that production that can be supported by members of the public health community.

Keywords: Agricultural Work Safety, Environmental Health Hazards

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.