Impacts of Intensive Livestock Production on Human Health in Densely Populated Regions

Abstract

In several regions worldwide, the presence of livestock in close proximity to residential areas raises questions about public health implications. The rapid expansion of large‐scale livestock farms, increasingly interwoven with urbanized areas, and its potential impact on neighboring residents' health has hardly been accompanied by any research. The current situation in densely populated livestock farming areas could be regarded as a “natural experiment.” Most scientific and public health initiatives have focused on emerging zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance as potential health threats. In this commentary, we emphasize the importance of respiratory health effects of noninfectious air pollutant emissions from livestock farms.

Morbidity Rates in an Area with High Livestock Density: A Registry-Based Study Including Different Groups of Patients with Respiratory Health Problems

“…It is well-documented that agriculture constitutes a major source of air pollution [1][2][3][4]. Livestock farms emit high levels of environmental agents and pathogens that could elicit adverse health effects, such as bacteria, viruses, endotoxins, and particular matter [5].…”

“…of information regarding exposure type and levels in the proximity of livestock farms [5], several epidemiological studies have investigated health effects in residents living in the neighborhood of livestock farms, such as respiratory complaints, pneumonia, asthma, allergies, and lung function deficit [7][8][9][10][11][12]. In the Netherlands in particular, the magnitude of the risk for adverse effects can be large, considering the high animal density alongside with the high human population density [4]. A representative example is the Q-fever outbreak caused by the bacterial pathogen Coxiella burnetii, affecting more than 4000 people in the period 2007-2010 [13], with dairy goats and dairy sheep being the main source of the pathogen.Following that incident, the potential health risks of living in the vicinity of large livestock farms has been receiving increased attention, due to a number of findings regarding the increased rates of primarily respiratory symptoms and infections in the eastern part of the province of North Brabant and the northern part of the province of Limburg.…”

A Review of Potential Public Health Impacts Associated With the Global Dairy Sector

“…Smaller particles (e.g., PM 2.5 ) have a longer atmospheric lifetime than larger particles, which tend to settle more quickly (Cambra‐López et al, ; Melse et al, ). Therefore, smaller particles can contribute to air pollution on a regional scale, while larger particles tend to contribute to air pollution on a local scale (Cambra‐López et al, ; Smit & Heederik, ).…”

“…Cattle can excrete a number of different zoonotic pathogens that can aerosolize and infect humans through inhalation (Cambra‐López et al, ; McDaniel et al, ; Smit & Heederik, ). For example, Coxiella burnetii , which is the causative agent of Q fever in humans, is shed in high numbers in the birth products of infected cattle (McDaniel et al, ; Porter et al, ).…”

“…Humans are often infected through contact with infected fluids or through the inhalation of contaminated dust (McDaniel et al, ; Porter et al, ). Generally, farmers, veterinarians, and those who live in close proximity to livestock facilities are at increased risk for airborne transmittable zoonoses (Cambra‐López et al, ; McDaniel et al, ; Porter et al, ; Smit & Heederik, ).…”