Livestock Feedlots Linked to Higher Air Pollution, Poorer Health Coverage Across 30 US Counties

New research mapping over 15,000 cattle and hog feeding operations (AFOs) across the United States reveals these facilities are concentrated in a small number of counties, mainly in the Midwest, West, and South. These operations contribute to significantly elevated levels of harmful fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) pollution—28% higher near cattle feedlots and 11% higher near hog farms—posing serious health risks such as heart disease and respiratory issues. The study highlights that many of the most affected communities are socially vulnerable, often with higher proportions of Latino residents, lower education levels, and limited health insurance coverage, raising environmental justice concerns. These findings emphasize the disproportionate burden faced by marginalized populations living near industrial livestock production sites, linking rural economic dependence to persistent public health disparities. Researchers suggest that focusing on a limited number of counties with dense AFO clusters could enable targeted policy interventions to mitigate health impacts. This comprehensive geospatial dataset, developed using government records and satellite imagery, represents the most detailed national inventory of AFOs to date and offers critical insights for policymakers and community groups addressing the environmental and social consequences of factory farming.