Harmful Emissions

Most people today are aware of the effects of harmful emissions such as automobile emissions, industrial emissions and the emissions from the power plants still using coal.  

Some people are also aware of the initiatives being taken to help reduce these harmful emissions such as the clean air act passed in 1963 by Congress which has been amended many times to enhance the original act. 

What many people do not realize is that 6 percent of the United States global warming impact from harmful emissions released into the air every day is from farmed animals. 

Farmed animals for commercial use emit the following harmful emissions: Hydrogen Sulphide , Ammonia, Particulate Matter, Endotoxins, Carbon Dioxide and Methane all of which can cause human and environmental problems.

The harmful emissions from commercially farmed animals cause distress on a global level as well as a human level.

Hydrogen Sulphide is a gaseous emission that can limit the absorption of oxygen at a cellular level and is commonly seen in hog farms.

Ammonia is found in large quantities near chicken and hog farms and can cause respiratory and skin irritations. 

Particulate Matter is the dust and particles that are blown from commercial farms and can cause a host of human ailments including asthma and other respiratory conditions.  Endotoxins are the by-product of bacterial cell wall degeneration and are commonly found in high concentrations on large farms; endotoxins can cause respiratory problems even in low concentrations. 

Carbon Dioxide   is produced in large quantities during the decomposition of manure and can cause death when there is a lack of ventilation. 

The most globally harmful farmed emission is from Methane produced during the digestion in livestock.   

The environmental risk involved in the harmful emissions from commercialized farming is particularly high due to the lack of legislation. 

Industrial and automotive harmful emissions are being adjusted and controlled with the legislative involvement; however, the emissions from animals are not. 

Greenhouse gas emissions are sometimes higher when you consider gases other than CO2, but the non CO2 emissions can be difficult to calculate at this moment in time.

There are a number of carbon calculators which ignore all non-CO2 emissions. Green trade or economy is the new buzz word around today. We need to prepare and educate people NOW before it’s too late.

By reducing your everyday household energy demands is another way to move nearer to carbon neutrality. Reducing the heating level in your home or office is an easy and sensible step forward. You could even change the thermostat of your system with a more energy efficient model. This all helps.

The incidence of commercial farms and animal production is on the increase and experts from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization feel that by the year 2050 global farm animal production will double from its present state. 

The increase of commercial farmed animals forces the confinement of the animal to enable the mass production in the least amount of space which increases the environmental impact substantially. 

While most farming emissions are legally regulated under the Clean Air Act it is generally not highly enforced.  The main focus of the Clean Air Act has been in the industrial and automotive emissions while the farming emissions have gone on the rise. 

There are measures that are effective in reducing the environmental and human damage caused by these harmful emissions such as air breaking near farms. This allows livestock to graze in pastures and better storage of manure. 

These measures are not often taken voluntarily as it increases the maintenance and cost of the farming, the enforcement of regulations would force the farming nation to better protect the environment from the harmful emissions.

This will in turn protect human health as well as the health of the farmed animals. 

The rate of disease and death in confined farmed animals are high and this results in the need for more antibiotics and chemicals which is harmful to the animal as well as the humans that consume the produce. 

The most effective way to lessen the risks of harmful emissions in commercial farms is to reduce the size.  Choosing to consume less meat products is the most effective way of lessening the demand and thus the production of farms.  Buying local organically farmed meat is another method to ensure proper farm maintenance and lessen the mass commercial farming.

Sustainable and Organic farming utilizes the natural pastures and health of the animals which benefits the animal, the environment and the human and helps to control the harmful emissions produced in farming.