Doctor-Diagnosed Health Problems in a Region with a High Density of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: A Cross-Sectional Study
February 24, 2016 —
There is growing interest in health risks of residents living near concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Previous research mostly focused on swine CAFOs and self-reported respiratory conditions. The aim was to study the association between the presence of swine, poultry, cattle and goat CAFOs and health of Dutch neighbouring residents using electronic medical records from general practitioners (GPs).
METHODS:
Data for the year 2009 were collected of 119,036 inhabitants of a rural region with a high density of CAFOs using information from GIAB (high exposed population). A comparison was made with GP data from 78,060 inhabitants of rural areas with low densities of CAFOs (low exposed population). Associations between the number of CAFOs near residents' homes and morbidity were determined by multilevel (cross-classified) logistic regression.
RESULTS:
In 2009, the prevalence of most respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions was similar in the high and low exposed population. Exceptions were pneumonia, atopic eczema and unspecified infectious diseases with an increased prevalence, and sinusitis with a decreased prevalence in the high exposed population. Within the high CAFO density region, the number of poultry, cattle and swine CAFOs near residents' homes was not associated with allergic, respiratory or gastrointestinal conditions. Conversely, each additional goat CAFO within the postal code area of residents' homes significantly increased the odds of unspecified infectious disease and pneumonia by 87 and 41 percent, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
Using GP records, pneumonia and unspecified infectious diseases were positively associated with the number of goat CAFOs near residents' homes, but no association was found between swine, cattle, and poultry CAFOs and respiratory, allergic or gastrointestinal conditions.
Hooiveld M, Smit LA, van der Sman-de Beer F, Wouters IM, van Dijk CE, Spreeuwenberg P, Heederik DJ, Yzermans CJ; Doctor-Diagnosed Health Problems in a Region with a High Density of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: A Cross-Sectional Study; Environ Health. 2016 Feb 17;15(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12940-016-0123-2. PMID: 26888643
- Next story: Swine Health Information Center Shares 2015 Progress Report at January Board Meeting and to NPB
- Next in category: Comparative Pathogenesis of US Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) Strain PC21A in Conventional 9-Day-Old Nursing Piglets vs. 26-Day-Old Weaned Pigs
- Previous in category: Characterization of the Shedding Patterns of Seneca Valley Virus (Seneca Virus A) on One Sow Farm in Minnesota
- Previous story: NIFA Webinar on New Veterinary Services Grant Program