RED DEER – The area around Lethbridge, Alta., presents an ideal
environment for researchers.
Paul Hasselback, chief medical officer of the Chinook Health Region
based in Lethbridge, said the high livestock numbers concentrated in a
small area north of the city can provide researchers the chance to
study the impact of prolonged exposure to odours and emissions from
cattle feedlot and hog barns.
“It is a unique environment and it should be an environment where we
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can actually determine how safe and how far can we go with expansion in
the livestock industry,” he said at the clean air strategic alliance
conference held in Red Deer June 3.
About 250 people representing professionals from the health care,
energy and agricultural industries attended the conference to learn
more about industrial emissions.
Many believe livestock emissions compromise human health.
Anecdotal evidence from farm workers and people living near livestock
operations report a greater level of respiratory problems than the
norm.
“The reality is 80 percent of complaints we get in our office are
related to odour and air quality complaints,” Hasselback said.
While southern Alberta has received publicity over poor water quality,
the cumulative effects of air pollution caused by livestock operations
may have a greater impact on the health of neighbours and farm workers,
said Hasselback.
Manure releases ammonia, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, methane and
150 other minor compounds.
Reported symptoms include a chronic cough, wheezing and reduced
pulmonary function but no research has been done specifically on this
area to confirm the full impact.
