Full Citation

Title: Satellite Observations of Atmospheric Ammonia Inequalities Associated with Industrialized Swine Facilities in Eastern North Carolina

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2025

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c11922

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Abstract: Industrialized swine facilities adversely affect the health and well-being of Eastern North Carolina residents in the U.S.and are an issue of environmental racism. Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) emit various harmful and noxious airpollutants, including ammonia (NH3). There are limited measurements of CAFO-related air quality, contributing to disputes aroundits severity. We use NH3 vertical column densities from the space-based Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) toreport systematic, distributive inequalities in NH3 column enhancements (ΔNH3 columns), equal to NH3 columns less anobservationally determined tropospheric background. Population-weighted block group-scale ΔNH3 columns are higher by 27 ± 3%for Black and African Americans, 35 ± 3% for Hispanics and Latinos, and 49 ± 3% for American Indians compared to non-Hispanic/Latino whites in Eastern North Carolina (April−August 2016−2021). Surface winds and air temperature influence block group-scaleNH3 distributions, with higher absolute NH3 inequalities for all groups on calm days and for Black and African Americans andHispanics and Latinos on hot days, consistent with effects from NH3 volatization downfield of facilities from, e.g., manure-coveredfields, particles, and other surfaces. ΔNH3 columns correspond spatially with permitted swine facilities, with residents living multiplekilometers from swine CAFOs chronically exposed to elevated NH3. Trends in NH3 columns over 2008−2023 are driven byregional-scale atmospheric processes rather than localized NH3 changes in CAFO emissions. Results are discussed in local decision-making contexts that have broad relevance for air quality issues without protective federal regulatory standards.

Url: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.4c11922

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Epps, Akirah; Dressel, Isabella; Odanibe, Maghogho; Fields, Kimberly; Carlton, Ann Marie; Sun, Kang; Pusede, Sally

Periodical (Full): Environmental Science & Technology

Issue: 5

Volume: 59

Pages: 2651-2664

Data Collections: IPUMS NHGIS

Topics: Health, Land Use/Urban Organization

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