County health board hears about CAFO

From left, Kathy Borgman, representing Citizens to Protect State Parks and Historic Sites, provides packets of information about concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to Stephen Allegri, president of the Saline County Health Department Board of Trustees, and Gayle Thomas, health department administrator. Borgman addressed the board Thursday, Feb. 1, to express concern about a proposed CAFO near Arrow Rock and to ask the department to research the health implications of CAFOs. [Click to enlarge]

The Citizens to Protect State Parks and Historic Sites organization (CPSPHS) would like the Saline County Health Department to investigate the potential health implications of living and working near concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

Kathy Borgman, representing CPSPHS, addressed the health department board of trustees Thursday, Feb. 1, providing a packet with some of the information the organization has gathered about CAFOs.

She cited a Center for Disease Control study that says health problems long associated with CAFO workers -- mainly respiratory problems -- can also affect people living near a CAFO site.

Borgman specifically asked the health department to inquire whether the Missouri Department of Health had done any studies on the health effects of CAFOs.

Board President Stephen Allegri said the staff would contact the state agency.

Health Inspector Craig Sullivan said his research on CAFOs so far suggested that most information and regulations related to CAFOs are located in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Borgman said after the meeting that she wasn't sure whether CPSPHS would ask for specific action from the health department.

"We're just trying to get these things on people's radar," she said.

The organization's main focus now is on seeking legislation to create a five-mile buffer zone around state parks and historic sites, she said.

A bill is currently being developed that the organization hopes will be introduced in the Missouri legislature soon.

One of the group's main concerns is that odor from Dennis Gessling's proposed CAFO about two miles from Arrow Rock would not only harm the village's tourist trade but could harm the health of residents as well.

Borgman said people "look at odor as a nuisance" but don't realize that odor is created by substances from the swine manure, including chemicals that can be harmful when inhaled.

She compared it to cigarette smoking, which she said also was seen as a mere nuisance before research established that it not only harmed the health of smokers but of those breathing second-hand smoke.

Gessling has said his existing CAFO about five miles northwest of Arrow Rock has not been the subject of complaints by neighbors. And he believes odor from his proposed operation nearer Arrow Rock will not be a problem for neighbors or village residents, either.

He applied for a permit Jan. 5 to build the new facility. The DNR has six months in which to respond to the request.

DNR also has a working group that is studying odor problems. The group next meets Jan. 30 in Jefferson City.

On the Net:

www.cdc.gov/nasd/docs/d001701-d001800/d0...

www.dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/odor-workgroup.h...

Contact Eric Crump at

marshallfaith@socket.net