PROTECTION OF RESIDENTS IN THE VICINITY OF INTENSIVE LIVESTOCK UNITS FROM POSSIBLE HEALTH RISKS

Parts of the population in the southern areas of the governmental dist rict Weser-Ems in the North West of Germany are concerned about the in creasing concentration of intensive livestock farming in this region. They are especially worried about the possible effects of airborne emi ssions such as gases and particulates from these enterprises on the re spiratory health of the local residents. Judicial aspects and control mechanisms are explained against the background of practical administr ative procedures. All measures to avoid odour pollution are regularly enacted including the distance regulation. In principle legal protecti on exists for residents against the effects of particulate emissions f rom intensive animal farming too, but there is not yet sufficient know ledge of how to put it into practice. Therefore no specific preventive measures exist to date. Additional preventive or protective measures concerning particles can only be introduced if there is new scientific evidence that the residents are at risk. The legislators see the best prevention in limiting emissions by up to date technologies. For the administration it is important to know how far the relevant substances are tranported from the animal houses. On this basis it will be possi ble to define the necessary distances.