It's also an industry that has many public health officials, environmentalists and communities more than a little concerned about the health impacts of hog-tainted air. I think this is a concern for all people, but especially people with pre-existing respiratory problems. It adds stress to their situation. Her concerns are shared by Dr. David Wong, a pediatrician in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Hog farms are notorious for the odor.
Hogs eat a lot, and pass a lot of excreta, with high ammonia content.
It can be highly irritating to the airways of people, especially those who have sensitive airways. Dr. Okun, whose doctorate is in public health, has spent the last 10 years working on this issue, attending hundreds of community meetings, studying federal, state and local policies and talking both with industry and affected communities. Part of Dr. Okun's work has been supported by the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors, which became concerned at the environmental impacts of large swine operations that moved into the state in recent years. Canada is faring little better when it comes to such research. In North Carolina, for example, there are more than 3,500 large hog operations and about 10 million swine.