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Factory Farms and Public Health

Factory farms create many public health problems, from antibiotic resistance to the contamination of drinking water with disease-causing bacteria.

Antibiotic Resistance: Because so many animals are packed together in stressful conditions, factory farms feed antibiotics to all animals to prevent disease and promote growth. More than 70 percent of antibiotics used in the U.S. are fed to livestock. According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), the emerging scientific consensus is that antibiotics given to livestock contribute to antibiotic resistance in humans by creating bacteria immune to some antibiotics or “superbugs.”

Air emissions: Manure lagoons release more than 400 volatile chemicals, including ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which can cause seizures, brain damage, or death. There is now extensive literature documenting acute and chronic respiratory diseases among factory farm workers. Even neighbors of factory farms have suffered severe consequences from farm emissions, including brain damage. Additionally, the horrific stench of these facilities devastates quality of life in these communities.

Bovine Growth Hormone: Also known as rBGH or rBST, recombinant bovine growth hormone is injected into cattle to increase their milk production. Legal in the United States and given to one-third of U.S. dairy cattle, bovine growth hormone has been banned in Canada, the European Union, Japan and other countries based on health concerns. Many unanswered questions remain about rBGH’s safety, and some scientists are concerned that rBGH may increase cancer rates and antibiotic resistance, as well as cause udder infections in cows. Find out more.

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