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Research studies, as well as citizens' own stories, show that human health can be adversely affected by the air and water pollution generated by factory hog
operations in North Carolina. Neighbors within two miles of large hog facilities experience significantly higher rates of the same respiratory ailments that
have been well documented in swine confinement house workers, relative to neighbors near cattle operations or no livestock operations. (Wing and Wolf 2000, Thu et al 1997).
People living in communities near large hog operations were also found to have significantly elevated symptoms of psychological stress, a condition found in other
studies to negatively affect immune system function and cause other health symptoms (Schiffman et al 2000, Schiffman 1998, Schiffman et al 1995).
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Lisa Hines lives across the street from a large
hog operation in Greene County, North Carolina. She and her son's doctor believe the odors and polluted air from the hog facility are harmful for
her son, who suffers from asthma. |
Doris Barnes, who lives in Duplin County, NC, sometimes has trouble breathing: |
