Characterizing effects of livestock farming on human health and the environment

Abstract

Livestock farming has various effects on public health and environment, such as greenhouse gas emissions, a contribution to nutrient surpluses, particulate matter emissions, and transmission and emergence of infectious diseases. Addressing one problem may unintentionally hinder addressing other problems when not integrally assessed. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to integrally assess the effects of the Dutch livestock sector on public health and environment. For that aim, information on 17 different impact categories have been synthesized. These range from a contribution of 2% of the water use in the Netherlands to 95% of the transfer of phosphorus to soils, but for example also concern odor annoyance and the risk of emerging zoonoses.

Respiratory diseases among residents living close to livestock farms were studied in more detail. Close to goat farms, an increased risk of pneumonia was observed, corresponding with earlier observations. In contrast, medication dispensing for asthma and COPD was lower close to livestock farms, especially in the vicinity of cattle farms. The specific causes of these health effects remain largely unknown. What is clear, is that cattle, pigs, poultry, and small ruminants, each have their own role in causing human health and environmental effects.

To bring the integrated assessment a step further in light of the future of livestock farming, experts were consulted to explore het effects of changes in livestock farming in a transition towards circular agriculture. Such changes are expected to have a limited positive effect on public health and environment. These effects appear insufficient to reach policy goals regarding climate change, nitrogen and particulate matter for example. In addition, risks have been identified as well and some changes have both beneficial and adverse effects.

The findings in this thesis provide starting points for a societal dialogue on the future of livestock farming. Such a dialogue may benefit from future research in which frequent interactions with stakeholders and policy makers is an integral part. To make such research relevant for the latter groups, it should not focus on describing the problems, but take potential solutions for the challenges in livestock farming as a starting point.