What is it?
Large industrial-scale animal agriculture facilities (typically 1,000+ cattle equivalents). Their waste lagoons and manure spreading release ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and pathogens into the air and surrounding water.
Why it matters
Residents near high-CAFO areas show elevated rates of asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory disease, plus drinking water contamination risk from nitrate runoff.
Reference value
Counties in the top 20% nationally for animal units per square mile are in the higher-burden band, particularly when paired with rural drinking water systems on shallow wells.
Data source
USDA Census of Agriculture · View source →