Industrial pollutants and animal health - A review

Abstract

The development of modern technology and the rapid industrialization are among the foremost factors to blame for the general pollution. The environmental pollutants spread through different channels, many of which sooner or later find entry into food chain of livestock and man. There is increasing concern about enviromental pollutants emanating from the livestock production systems. The livestock sector is one of the several industries that have faced criticism because of its impact on the environment. There is particular concern about the pollution caused by effluents, waste, gases and odours and particulate emissions which significantly affect health of both livestock and humans. The pollutants from livestock system can affect water, atmosphere and the food chain have drawn worldwide attention. With rapid population growth there is phenomenal increase in the demand for livestock products, this situation has led to change in the farming system from subsistence farming to commercial and from extensive/pastoral livestock systems to more intensive systems of production. Many reports confirm the adverse impacts of intensification of livestock production on the environment. The livestock systems are also prone to general problem of pollution emanating from industrial activity. Pollution of soil, herbage from heavy metal contaminations and other hitherto rare, but striking, industrial contamination origining from nuclear accidents can cause pollution over wide areas affecting health of livestock. There is a need to address to these problems at various levels. In this review an attempt is made to discuss some of the impacts of pollution on the livestock health and also environniental impacts of pollutants emanating from the intensive livestock production systems.