Through
recalculations based on a new approach, US researchers from the
University of Missouri have concluded that the amounts of methane
emitted from the waste on dairy and pig farms could be underestimated by
as much as 65%.
US factory farms, which house thousands of
animals at a time in one building, are often forced to dispose of the
overwhelming quantities of waste in manure “lagoons,” open and untreated
cesspits holding up to millions of gallons of liquid waste.
Although
these livestock waste lagoons generate toxic methane gas as a
byproduct, they are rarely measured due to the technical difficulty and
high costs. As a result, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
had been estimating the emissions of this potent greenhouse gas based on
a certain United Nations formula. However, the scientists found that
the lagoons generated methane more rapidly than calculated by the UN
formula.
This, combined with other equation updates, suggested
the current methane emissions could be up to two-thirds higher than
estimated. In addition, the report stated that other farmed animal
operations may in fact be producing methane pollution beyond the
threshold currently required for reporting to the EPA such as livestock
farms with less than 3,200 dairy cows or 34,100 pigs.The harmful effects
of livestock manure on environment and health due were further
described by US investigative journalist David Kirby in an interview.
David Kirby – Award winning US investigative journalist, author of “Animal Factory” (M):
There are all the gases that come up off the lagoons, that come out of
the barns themselves, and that come from the spray fields, where when
they have to get rid this liquid waste. Of course, if the wind comes,
well that’s great for the farmer, because he’s just gotten rid of
several hundreds of gallons of liquid that just flew away out in the
air.
The lagoons themselves give off gas, and they emit methane,
which is very hazardous to human health; hydrogen sulfide, which can
cause neurological disorders, depression, anxiety, even suicide,
aggression – hydrogen sulfide is a horrible thing to be exposed to; and
ammonia.
VOICE: Our appreciation, Mr. Kirby and University of
Missouri researchers for your factual observations that help quantify
this harmful greenhouse gas. With such serious considerations as these,
may governments and individuals make the urgent and necessary shift to
low-emission, humane plant-based agriculture to save the planet.
Supreme
Master Ching Hai has conveyed on many occasions her concern for the
environmental impact of animal farming, as during this September 2009
videoconference in South Korea.
Supreme Master Ching Hai:
The animals and their waste also produce very potent greenhouse gases,
like methane and nitrous oxide, even other toxic gases. Methane is up to
100 times more potent than carbon dioxide. And nitrous oxide is 300
times more potent than carbon dioxide. Respected scientists recalculated
and found that the meat industry is actually producing more than 50% of
global greenhouse gas emissions.
Meat is the number one cause
of global warming. So, the number one solution is to stop producing it.
Logical, yes? So, we all have to be vegan. That is what the science is
clearly telling us right now.
http://www.physorg.com/news196618186.htmlhttp://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1884745/scientists_question_epa_estimates_of_greenhouse_gas_emissions/
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