September 10, 2024

Rise of intensive pig farms in UK raises alarm over environmental risks

The number of pigs housed in intensive farming units — facilities that house thousands of animals at once — in the United Kingdom has grown by 11% over the past six years , with 268 such farms now capable of holding 1.3 million pigs at any given time.

These large-scale operations, which require special permits due to their size, are concentrated in specific regions, including North Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire. As highlighted in a recent report by i newspaper, these farms may be having an outsized impact on environmental health in these areas.

The rapid expansion of these factory farms has sparked alarm among environmentalists, scientists, and local communities. Intensive pig farming is associated with several environmental risks, particularly the emission of ammonia, a toxic gas that poses a significant public health threat.

Ammonia, released by livestock waste, can combine with other pollutants to form fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), which can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, leading to serious health issues such as respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive decline. It was estimated that PM 2.5 pollution contributes to around 29,000 deaths annually in the UK, with ammonia from agriculture being responsible for a significant portion of this pollution.

Nutrient-rich waste from intensive pig farms can also run off into rivers and waterways during rainstorms, leading to nutrient overloads that devastate aquatic ecosystems. These nutrients can cause algal blooms, which deplete oxygen levels in the water, killing fish and other marine life. The concentration of pig farms in certain areas has resulted in these regions bearing the brunt of pollution risks, with Northern Ireland, for example, seeing ammonia emissions four times higher than the rest of the UK.

Environmental campaigners are already calling for a moratorium on the development of new large-scale farms until more research is conducted to fully understand their impact on the environment and public health.

- Envirotech