Geography of animal feeding operations and their contribution to fine particulate matter pollution in vulnerable communities in the United States
Abstract Animal Feeding Operations or AFOs, such as beef feedlots, dairy farms, and hog farms, are associated with elevated levels of harmful fine particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5). The geographic distribution of AFOs in the United States is not well-documented, hindering efforts to identify affected...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02520-w |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849332195886366720 |
|---|---|
| author | Sanaz Chamanara Dimitrios Gounaridis Benjamin Goldstein Joshua P. Newell |
| author_facet | Sanaz Chamanara Dimitrios Gounaridis Benjamin Goldstein Joshua P. Newell |
| author_sort | Sanaz Chamanara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Animal Feeding Operations or AFOs, such as beef feedlots, dairy farms, and hog farms, are associated with elevated levels of harmful fine particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5). The geographic distribution of AFOs in the United States is not well-documented, hindering efforts to identify affected communities and assess health impacts from this pollution. This study introduces the most comprehensive spatial database of these operations available for the United States, composed of 8763 cattle operations and 6963 hog farms, and clarifies their influence on particulate matter concentrations. Results reveal a high geographic concentration, with just thirty counties containing roughly 25% of all identified feeding operations. PM2.5 levels are significantly higher in census tracts with these operations than in those without: 28% higher in tracts with cattle operations and 11% higher in tracts with hog farms. Pollution burdens disproportionately affect socially vulnerable, minority populations with limited health insurance coverage, underscoring the need for targeted interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ece37d4f992843bc8ab1d68a858fdb69 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-ece37d4f992843bc8ab1d68a858fdb692025-08-20T03:46:16ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-08-016111010.1038/s43247-025-02520-wGeography of animal feeding operations and their contribution to fine particulate matter pollution in vulnerable communities in the United StatesSanaz Chamanara0Dimitrios Gounaridis1Benjamin Goldstein2Joshua P. Newell3Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of CaliforniaSchool for Environment and Sustainability, University of MichiganSchool for Environment and Sustainability, University of MichiganSchool for Environment and Sustainability, University of MichiganAbstract Animal Feeding Operations or AFOs, such as beef feedlots, dairy farms, and hog farms, are associated with elevated levels of harmful fine particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5). The geographic distribution of AFOs in the United States is not well-documented, hindering efforts to identify affected communities and assess health impacts from this pollution. This study introduces the most comprehensive spatial database of these operations available for the United States, composed of 8763 cattle operations and 6963 hog farms, and clarifies their influence on particulate matter concentrations. Results reveal a high geographic concentration, with just thirty counties containing roughly 25% of all identified feeding operations. PM2.5 levels are significantly higher in census tracts with these operations than in those without: 28% higher in tracts with cattle operations and 11% higher in tracts with hog farms. Pollution burdens disproportionately affect socially vulnerable, minority populations with limited health insurance coverage, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02520-w |
| spellingShingle | Sanaz Chamanara Dimitrios Gounaridis Benjamin Goldstein Joshua P. Newell Geography of animal feeding operations and their contribution to fine particulate matter pollution in vulnerable communities in the United States Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Geography of animal feeding operations and their contribution to fine particulate matter pollution in vulnerable communities in the United States |
| title_full | Geography of animal feeding operations and their contribution to fine particulate matter pollution in vulnerable communities in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Geography of animal feeding operations and their contribution to fine particulate matter pollution in vulnerable communities in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geography of animal feeding operations and their contribution to fine particulate matter pollution in vulnerable communities in the United States |
| title_short | Geography of animal feeding operations and their contribution to fine particulate matter pollution in vulnerable communities in the United States |
| title_sort | geography of animal feeding operations and their contribution to fine particulate matter pollution in vulnerable communities in the united states |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02520-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sanazchamanara geographyofanimalfeedingoperationsandtheircontributiontofineparticulatematterpollutioninvulnerablecommunitiesintheunitedstates AT dimitriosgounaridis geographyofanimalfeedingoperationsandtheircontributiontofineparticulatematterpollutioninvulnerablecommunitiesintheunitedstates AT benjamingoldstein geographyofanimalfeedingoperationsandtheircontributiontofineparticulatematterpollutioninvulnerablecommunitiesintheunitedstates AT joshuapnewell geographyofanimalfeedingoperationsandtheircontributiontofineparticulatematterpollutioninvulnerablecommunitiesintheunitedstates |