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EPA Announces Emission Reporting Requirements for CAFOs.
The EPA has ruled that emissions from animal waste do not need to be reported under the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Compensation Liability Act (CERCLA). Larger CAFOs that emit over 100 pounds or more of hydrogen sulfide or ammonia in a 24 hour period, however, will be required to report their emissions by telephone to the proper regulatory agencies.
From: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2007/December/Day-28/a25231.htm and extension.org
EPA Releases New "CAFO Rule".
"EPA has finalized revisions to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements and Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards (ELG) for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations."
From: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/afo/cafofinalrule.cfm
PEW Charitable Trusts releases report on livestock production in the United States.
The PEW Charitable Trusts in coordination with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health released their report on livestock production in the United States entitled "Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America". The report examines public health, environmental, and welfare factors surrounding modern livestock production and gives their recommendations on sustainablity and other issues.
From: http://www.pewtrusts.org/our_work_detail.aspx?id=484
Associated Press research finds prescription drugs/hormones in U.S. drinking water supplies.
A study conducted by the Associated Press found prescription drugs and hormones in the drinking water of over 40 million Americans. The report indicates that the drugs enter the water supply from human sources. Specific drugs detected included anti-depressants, pain medications as well as cholesterol lowering medications. The concentrations detected were very low.
From:http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/10/pharma.water1.ap/index.html
Iowa Policy Project releases results of study looking at economic impacts of CAFOs.
An Iowa State University group studied the effects of pork expansion in the 1990's on Iowa counties with mixed results.
From:Flora J, Chen Q, Bastian S, Hartmann R. 2007. Hog CAFOs and sustainability: The impact on local development and water quality in Iowa. Iowa Policy Project. October 2007.
Higher concentrations of antbiotic resistant bacteria downstream from a swine CAFO.
Researchers at the University of Kansas measured fecal coliforms and antibiotic resistance in enterococci both downstream and upstream from a swine CAFO. Enterococci isolated downstream from the farm were more resistant to four antibiotics tested. The authors concluded that contamination of water with livestock waste could further the spread of antibiotic resistance.
From:Sapkota AR, Curriero FC, Gibson KE, Schwab KJ. 2007. Antibiotic-resistant enterococci and fecal indicators in surface water and groundwater impacted by a concentrated Swine feeding operation. Environmental Health Perspective. 115:1040-1045.
The concentration of airborne bacteria in CAFO emissions decreases rapidly with distance.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati evaluated levels of bacteria in air samples immediately upwind and downwind of a swine CAFO (up to 150m). The study found that the concentration of bacteria, while high inside the buildings, steadily decreased downwind of the building. The authors conclude that swine CAFOs should be at least 200m from a residential area.
From: Green CF, Gibbs SG, Tarwater PM, Mota LC, Scarpino PV. 2006. Bacterial plume emanating from the air surrounding swine confinement operations. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 3:9-15.
Constructed wetlands are effective in eliminating hormones from livestock manure.
USDA researchers studied the effectiveness of livestock lagoons in removing hormones from swine manure and found that constructed wetlands reduce estrogenic activity by 83-93%. The result was wetland effluent with estrogenic activity below the concentration known to have a negative effect on fish populations.
Review article on estrogens and the environment.
From: Khanal SK, Xie B, Thompson ML, Sung S, Ong SK, Van Leeuwent J. 2006. Fate, transport, and biodegradation of natural estrogens in the environment and engineered systems. Environmental Science and Technology. 40:6537-46.
Leaching of estrogenic hormones is affected by soil type.
Researchers from Denmark and Greenland followed the transport of estrogen hormones from manure to tile drainage systems. The group found that introduction of the hormones to the aquatic environment was “governed by pronounced macropore flow”. The authors concluded that the application of manure to structured soils could pose a contamination risk to water sources with estrogen.
From: Kjaer J, Olsen P, Bach K, Barlebo HC, Ingerslev F, Hansen M, SA renson BH. 2007. Leaching of estrogenic hormones from manure-treated structured soils. Environmental Science and Technology. 41: 3911-7.
Attenuation of ionophores by soil.
A group from Purdue University studied the fate of monensin and lasalocid in soil. The researchers found that both ionophores have half-lives of less than 4 days in fresh soil. Although the group was able to detect the antibiotics in beef-derived lagoon effluent used for irrigation, the levels in a nearby drainage ditch were greatly reduced. The authors concluded that “attenuation by soil after land application will greatly reduce the amount [of ionophores] entering surface water”.
Cows fed phytase have reduced fecal excretion of nitrogen and phosphorous.
Researchers at Virginia Tech showed that including phytase in the diet of dairy cows reduced fecal dry matter, and fecal excretion of nitrogen and phosphorous while slightly increasing digestibility of dry matter.
From: Knowlton KF, Taylor MS, Hill SR, Cobb C, Wilson KF. 2007. Manure nutrient excretion by lactating cows fed exogenous phytase and cellulose. Journal of Dairy Science. 90:4356-60.
Elevated levels of antibiotic resistant Enterococcus found in water sources downstream from swine facility.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins tested water samples upstream and downstream from a swine facility from 2002 to 2004. E. coli and enterococci were tested for resistance to five common antibiotics. Higher concentrations of the bacteria with higher levels of antibiotic resistance were found downstream as compared to upstream.
From: Saptoka AR, Curriero FC, Gibson KE, Schwab KJ. 2007. Antibiotic-resistant enterococci and fecal indicators in surface water and groundwater impacted by a concentrated swine feeding operation. Environmental Health Perspectives. 115:1040-5.
Use of anaerobic digesters to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
Scientists from the University of Southampton (UK) reviewed the use and feasibility of anaerobic digesters in both reducing greenhouse gas emission and producing “green electricity”.
From: Banks CJ, Salter AM, Chesshire M. 2007. Potential of anaerobic digestion for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and production of renewable energy from agriculture: barriers and incentives to widespread adoption in Europe. Water Science Technology. 55:165-73.
Biofilters are an effective but costly way to reduce odors.
Canadian researchers examined the ability of a biofiltration system at eliminating odors from a duck confinement building. The authors concluded that biofilters are effective at reducing odors but need to become more cost-effective for widespread implementation.
From: Lau A, Cheng K. 2007. Removal of odor using biofilter from duck confinement buildings. Journal of Environmental Science and Health. 42:955-9.
