Hog Farms and How They Affect People’s Health

By: Danielle Howell

http://www.themeatrix.com/

This is a video about how hog farms work.

The Meatrix

It’s home to more than 10 million hogs 92% of hogs are raised in factory-like

conditions Rated # 2 in the nation for hog production Affect air quality, health, water quality, and

every day life Disposing of hog wastes create pollution Run-off from waste that’s sprayed onto fields

pollutes streams, rivers, and water supplies Hog farms definitely affect people more when

they live near them.

Hog Farms in N.C.

Population- 1,985 Hog Population- 2,200,000 Minority Population- 46.4% Median Income- $30,657 Poverty Population- 17.6%

Dublin County in 2005

People can’t go outside because of the air from the pollution of the hog farms.

People cough, wheeze, eyes water, and even feel sick breathing in that odor.

Hydro-sulfide is a deadly, dangerous gas that’s produced in hog waste and if inhaled people can pass out.

Lagoons are also deadly because of the hydro-sulfide in them and people have to wear masks outside.

Bad Traits of Hog Farms

This lady got her water tested for free and got a letter back telling her not to drink her water, cook with it, or wash with it.

Her dogs used to drink out of the ditch near her house and the well water from their water bowls and they eventually died off.

She ended up getting a new dog and it drinks the water from the ditch as well and when she delivered her puppies they were born dead.

She said, “when they fertilize the field, the odor gets in the air and she can’t even go outside nor let her grandson play outside because he got sick once from being out there from the odor.”

Violent Branch (Resident of Dublin)

Population- 21,483 Hog Population- 156,000 Minority Population- 41% Median Income- $27,143 Poverty Population- 10.2%

Northampton County

This lady had to check to see if the odor was outside before she could go out there.

On a day where there was no odor in the air, she runs outside to get done what she needs to do outside.

Also, when coming home she would sometimes have to run inside because of the odor.

When the odor is in the air she doesn’t go outside, keeps the windows shut, and keeps the doors shut so it doesn’t get inside.

Rev. Ella Skipwith (Resident of Northampton County)

People cannot live in these conditions it affects their health way too much. People can’t even go outside and live a normal life without worrying about the odor in the air. People have passed out from it and ended up in a wheel chair and had to start over again to be able to walk. A lot of people have a lower life expectancy because of it and it makes the poverty rate higher. I believe something needs to be done about hog farms and how they get rid of hog waste. People can’t move away from them because they can’t afford to and have to deal with living in a bad health environment.

SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND CHANGE THE SITUATION!!

SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!