EPA Website Data
Drinking Water Impacts
When contaminants from animal waste seep into underground sources of drinking water, the amount of nitrate in the ground water supply can reach unhealthy levels. Infants up to three months of age are particularly susceptible to high nitrate levels and may develop Blue Baby Syndrome (methemoglobinemia), an often fatal blood disorder.
The microorganisms found in animal wastes, such as cryptosporidium, can also pose significant public health threats. For example, after a severe rainstorm in 1993, an outbreak of cryptosporidium in Milwaukee's drinking water supply caused 100 deaths and sickened 430,000 people. If the presence of these microorganisms exceeds the standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act, community and private well owners will not only face health risks, but will also have to find new sources for their drinking water supplies. This can be extremely costly and impractical.
River and Stream Impacts
Manure, and wastewater containing manure, can severely harm river and stream ecosystems. Manure contains ammonia which is highly toxic to fish at low levels. Increased amounts of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from AFOs can cause algal blooms which block waterways and deplete oxygen as they decompose. This can kill fish and other aquatic organisms, devastating the entire aquatic food chain.
Air Impacts
In general, air quality problems associated with AFOs are caused by gases emitted from the decomposition of animal wastes and by the dust generated by animal activity and farming practices. These air pollutants can cause respiratory illness, lung inflammation, and increase vulnerability to respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Emissions of reactive organics and ammonia from AFOs can play a role in the formation of ozone (smog) and particulates, air pollutants regulated by Clean Air Act to protect public health. Soil disturbance by animals or farm equipment can generate particulate matter. Emissions from AFOs are a major concern in areas, such as the San Joaquin Valley and California's South Coast, where ozone and particulate matter often exceed national health standards.
In addition to negative health impacts, ozone can reduce agricultural yields and make plants more vulnerable to disease. Odorous and potentially toxic gases, such as sulfur dioxide, produced by the decomposition of animal wastes, may also cause nausea, headaches, and throat and eye irritation after prolonged exposure. Methane emissions from waste decomposition at AFOs also contribute to climate change.
Nitrate/Nitrite: Nitrogen combined with oxygen forms nitrate. According to EPA's 1992 report to Congress, 49 states identified nitrates as a principal ground water contaminant. Nitrate can contaminate drinking water supplies drawn from ground water. It has been linked to cancer and birth defects. Nitrite may be formed in the stomach by the ingestion of nitrate in drinking water. This can cause the potentially fatal infant disease, methemoglobinemia or "blue baby syndrome".
Pathogens: Organisms that pollute drinking water supplies and threaten human health (for example, giardia and cryptosporidium). Pathogens in manure can also create a food safety concern if manure is applied directly to crops at inappropriate times.
Data on Nitrates, Nitrites, and Nitrosamines by R L Shirley, Bio Science Vol. 25 reports "Nitrates, Nitrites and Nitrosamines are among the potentially hazardous substances to domestic animals and humans in our environment. Nitrates are readily reduced to nitrites, and nitrites react with amines to form carcinogenic nitrosamines".
Wikipedia
Nitrosamines can cause cancers in a wide variety of animal species, a feature that suggests that they may also be carcinogenic in humans
When contaminants from animal waste seep into underground sources of drinking water, the amount of nitrate in the ground water supply can reach unhealthy levels. Infants up to three months of age are particularly susceptible to high nitrate levels and may develop Blue Baby Syndrome (methemoglobinemia), an often fatal blood disorder.
The microorganisms found in animal wastes, such as cryptosporidium, can also pose significant public health threats. For example, after a severe rainstorm in 1993, an outbreak of cryptosporidium in Milwaukee's drinking water supply caused 100 deaths and sickened 430,000 people. If the presence of these microorganisms exceeds the standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act, community and private well owners will not only face health risks, but will also have to find new sources for their drinking water supplies. This can be extremely costly and impractical.
River and Stream Impacts
Manure, and wastewater containing manure, can severely harm river and stream ecosystems. Manure contains ammonia which is highly toxic to fish at low levels. Increased amounts of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from AFOs can cause algal blooms which block waterways and deplete oxygen as they decompose. This can kill fish and other aquatic organisms, devastating the entire aquatic food chain.
Air Impacts
In general, air quality problems associated with AFOs are caused by gases emitted from the decomposition of animal wastes and by the dust generated by animal activity and farming practices. These air pollutants can cause respiratory illness, lung inflammation, and increase vulnerability to respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Emissions of reactive organics and ammonia from AFOs can play a role in the formation of ozone (smog) and particulates, air pollutants regulated by Clean Air Act to protect public health. Soil disturbance by animals or farm equipment can generate particulate matter. Emissions from AFOs are a major concern in areas, such as the San Joaquin Valley and California's South Coast, where ozone and particulate matter often exceed national health standards.
In addition to negative health impacts, ozone can reduce agricultural yields and make plants more vulnerable to disease. Odorous and potentially toxic gases, such as sulfur dioxide, produced by the decomposition of animal wastes, may also cause nausea, headaches, and throat and eye irritation after prolonged exposure. Methane emissions from waste decomposition at AFOs also contribute to climate change.
Nitrate/Nitrite: Nitrogen combined with oxygen forms nitrate. According to EPA's 1992 report to Congress, 49 states identified nitrates as a principal ground water contaminant. Nitrate can contaminate drinking water supplies drawn from ground water. It has been linked to cancer and birth defects. Nitrite may be formed in the stomach by the ingestion of nitrate in drinking water. This can cause the potentially fatal infant disease, methemoglobinemia or "blue baby syndrome".
Pathogens: Organisms that pollute drinking water supplies and threaten human health (for example, giardia and cryptosporidium). Pathogens in manure can also create a food safety concern if manure is applied directly to crops at inappropriate times.
Data on Nitrates, Nitrites, and Nitrosamines by R L Shirley, Bio Science Vol. 25 reports "Nitrates, Nitrites and Nitrosamines are among the potentially hazardous substances to domestic animals and humans in our environment. Nitrates are readily reduced to nitrites, and nitrites react with amines to form carcinogenic nitrosamines".
Wikipedia
Nitrosamines can cause cancers in a wide variety of animal species, a feature that suggests that they may also be carcinogenic in humans
