Pollution

Animals and their uses have a significant impact on pollution, with industrial animal agriculture damaging our soil, water, air and the climate on an unprecedented scale.

In many countries, agriculture – particularly industrial animal agriculture – is a leading cause of pollution. Taken together, industrial crop and animal agriculture and aquaculture are responsible for the vast majority of air and water pollution globally.

In intensive animal production, animals and their waste are concentrated and usually exceed the capacity of the land to absorb the waste. Undesirable components of animal waste from farms and slaughterhouses include pathogens (such as E-coli), antibiotic-resistant bacteria, hormones, veterinary pharmaceuticals, excess nutrients, viruses, industrial chemicals, and heavy metals which can pollute land and water; and can release ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, volatile organic compounds, bioaerosols, and particulate matter into the air. Consequently, the rapid growth of intensive animal production has produced an expanding array of deleterious environmental effects on water, air, and soil.