Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117389

Sacoby Wilson, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1000 Smith Level Road, Apartment C1, Carrboro, NC 27510, 9199602777, smwilson@email.unc.edu

Confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) raise large numbers of animals in small spaces and dispose of liquid waste in lagoons and spray fields. There are approximately twelve million hogs raised in North Carolina that produce several environmental externalities including air and water pollution. Most of these operations are found in the coastal plain of the state and can create health hazards for nearby human populations.

NH3 data was collected using passive diffusion tubes in triplicate during two phases of sampling. Phase I sampling occurred from October 2003 to May 2004 and Phase II sampling occurred from July 2004 to October 2004. Monitoring stations were setup at varying distances from a hog CAFO and data was collected once a week at each site. NH3 data and other data were utilized to develop a spatial model of atmospheric ammonia levels in an area of Eastern North Carolina. The study found average weekly NH3 levels at human receptor locations including households and schools as high as 80 ppb at distances less than 1 km from the nearest industrial hog operation. These levels were appreciably higher than normal background levels.

The study provides evidence that can be used to develop air pollution policy related to the control of ammonia emissions from hog CAFOs. This research adds to the body of evidence that supports community concerns about the need for strict environmental and health policy related to pollution releases from factory farms.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the environmental and public health problems caused by pollutants from hog CAFOs
• Utilize passive monitoring methods to measure atmosphere ammonia levels near factory farms
• Explain how GIS can be used in spatial mapping of pollutants
• Describe the implications of this research in developing air pollution and health policy

Keywords: Animal Waste, Air Pollutants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.