Abstract
Given the primacy of Iowa in pork production for the U.S. and global markets, we sought to understand if the same relationship with traditional environmental justice (EJ) variables such as low income and minority populations observed in other concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) studies exists in the relationship with swine CAFO densities in Iowa. We examined the potential for spatial clustering of swine CAFOs in certain parts of the state and used spatial regression techniques to determine the relationships of high swine concentrations to these EJ variables. We found that while swine CAFOs do cluster in certain regions and watersheds of Iowa, these high densities of swine are not associated with traditional EJ populations of low income and minority race/ethnicity. Instead, the potential for environmental injustice in the negative impacts of intensive swine production require a more complex appraisal. The clustering of swine production in watersheds, the presence of antibiotics used in swine production in public waterways, the clustering of manure spills, and other findings suggest that a more literal and figurative “downstream” approach is necessary. We document the presence and location of antibiotics used in animal production in the public waterways of the state. At the same time, we suggest a more “upstream” understanding of the structural, political and economic factors that create an environmentally unjust landscape of swine production in Iowa and the Upper Midwest is also crucial. Finally, we highlight the important role of publicly accessible and high quality data in the analysis of these upstream and downstream EJ questions.
Highlights
Global demand for meat is increasing as the emerging middle class in low and middle-income countries undergoes a nutrition transition [1,2,3,4]
Given the primacy of Iowa in swine production for the U.S and global markets, we sought to understand if the same relationship with traditional environmental justice variables such as low income and minority populations observed in other concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) studies was found in relation to swine CAFO densities in Iowa
To explore the potential for the negative impacts of swine CAFOs on local water sources, we examined the presence of antibiotics used in animal production in water used by humans
Summary
Global demand for meat is increasing as the emerging middle class in low and middle-income countries undergoes a nutrition transition [1,2,3,4]. The results of the regression analysis indicate that traditional EJ populations, those that are poor or racial/ethnic minorities, are not exposed to high swine AU densities in Iowa as they are elsewhere in the U.S the Percent No College variable was statistically significant for both models. The underlying logic is that the knowledge, capabilities, and skills associated with educational attainment enable those with higher attainment levels to access greater opportunities, social positioning, and decision-making power in a market economy The results of this analysis suggest that educational resources in Iowa, where most adults complete a high school degree but many do not go on to complete a college degree, may operate independently of poverty in a manner that enables those with higher attainment levels to avoid areas of high CAFO density. Plotting the percentage of tests in a watershed that were positive for each antibiotic versus the swinePPlAlootUttiinangngdtthhmeeappneeurrcrceeennsttpaagigleledooeffnttesesisttitsessiinninaatwhwaoatseteerrswshhaeetdedrtsthhhaeatdtwsweienrredepipcoaostsietistivisveoemfofoerrepeaoacschshiabanlnetitabibsioisootticciicavvteieorrsnsusussthtthahete nssweweidnineeAtoAUUbaneadnfdmumratnhauenrruerseepxsiplplliodlrleenddseinti(seFistiigienusrtihenots9he)o.wseSatuwelrfasahtmeerdestshheiondxdsaiczinaotdleeisc, asotliemnscesoopmmoysesciipbnol,esassisubsllofeacimaastesiothncaisazttihinoaent snaetnheddat ttrnoiembeedetfhutorotphrebirmeexifnpulroptrhaeredtric(Fueilxgapurlroaerpe9pd)e. aS(ruFltifogaumerxehthi9bo)ix.taaSzouploefa,simltiinevcteohmocoxyracrzieonlal,ets,iuolnlfianbmceoetmwthyeaeczniinn,ienacsnuredlafastrmeidmetephtrahezosiepnnreicmeaoninfd aptnarirtmitbiceiuothltaiocrsparapinmpdeaihnrigtpohaeerrxtihdcieubnliatsriatiapepsopsoieftaisvrwetiocnoeerxraehnliadbtimot naanbpueotrwseitesiepvneillicsno.crreealsaetdiopnrebseetnwceeonf ainnctribeiaosteidcs parnedsehnigceheorf daenntsibitiioetsicosf asnwdinheigahnedrmdeannsuitrieespoifllssw. ine and manure spills
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