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Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
According to
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, a CAFO is an animal
feeding operation (AFO) that meets or exceeds specified criteria.
By definition, an AFO is a facility that in any 12-month period
houses animals for a total of 45 days or more and does not grow or store
crops. An AFO can be
designated a CAFO based on “the number of animal units, the length of
time the animals are maintained at the facility, and the method of
confinement… and means of waste containment and disposal used by the
facility.”
- On June 23-24,
1998, CDC convened a workshop to consider the public health
implications of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO).
Research on potential human health effects associated with
CAFOs is limited.
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HSB conducted the first environmental assessment of swine CAFOs in the
state of Iowa, from October to December, 1998. The
findings from this pilot investigation were published in a CDC report
to the state of Iowa and distributed to local, state, and
international governments, industry, academia, and to the public on
request.
-
CDC conducted the first environmental assessment of poultry CAFOs in
the state of Ohio, in November 1998. The findings from this
pilot investigation were published in a CDC report to the state of
Ohio and distributed to local, state, and international governments,
industry, academia, and to the public on request.
- CDC collaborates
with private, as well as state and federal laboratories to develop new
methodologies for studying the impact of chemical and microbial
constituents from CAFOs on the environment.
- CDC staff presents
the results of both the swine and poultry CAFO pilot studies at
numerous national conferences.
CDC began Phase II of
the CAFO research in collaboration with the state of Iowa, the U.S.
Geological Survey, Iowa State University, the University of Iowa,
private laboratories, and the National Center for Infectious Disease.
CDC conducted intensive sampling and analysis for chemical and
microbial contaminants in the fall of 1999 and spring of 2000. A report
of our findings will be ready for distribution by the end of 2000.
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