Impact of the livestock facilities on the quality and safety of ground water

Abstract

© 2014, Asociacion Espanola de Toxicologia. All rights reserved.The possibility that livestock activities represent a source of contamination for water resources has been a concern, particularly in terms of nutrient pollution (nitrogen load, phosphates, salinity, etc...). But for decades, the exponential increase in intensive farming has magnified this problem as increased the number of animals in confined space and has diversified the number of potential contaminants (eg, antibiotics and other veterinary drugs). According to available data, generally accepted practices of livestock waste management, even in the best conditions, do not guarantee effective protection of water resources. Thus it has been proved that the sources of water near the concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) are frequently contaminated with excessive nutrients (N, P, Cl-), microbial pathogens, pharmaceuticals, hormones, heavy metals, disinfectant by-products, and other pollutants that are classified as emerging contaminants. Inadvertent exposure to these residues from livestock facilities through drinking water can have a real impact on human health and the environment. Therefore this issue is a matter of concern for the authorities with responsibility for Public Health. In this review the principal risks of CAFO activities on the safety and quality of groundwater are identified and listed what are the documented effects on human and environmental health of such pollutants.