Facts of InterestAn Iowa study evaluated the health of 18 neighbors living within a two-mile radius of a 4,000-head hog confinement facility. Their physical and mental health was compared to a random sample of comparable rural residents who did not live near livestock facilities. Neighbors reported respiratory problems similar to those of workers on factory farms. Some of the most common symptoms reported were bronchitis and hyperactive airways, including coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. Other common symptoms among this group of residents were nausea, weakness, dizziness, and fainting.
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