A groundbreaking study led by researchers from the University of Virginia (UVA) has brought to light significant, long-standing environmental inequalities tied to industrialized swine farming operations in Eastern North Carolina. The research, which utilizes satellite data to track ammonia (NH₃) levels over a 15-year period from 2008 to 2023, reveals that communities of color—particularly Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous populations—suffer from disproportionately high levels of air pollution from swine facilities. These communities, already burdened with social and economic disadvantages, are further exposed to health risks due to environmental inequalities linked to the intensive agricultural practices of industrialized swine farming.
Satellite Data Sheds Light on Environmental Inequalities
The study, published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal by Sally Pusede and her research team from the Department of Environmental Sciences at UVA, marks an important step in quantifying environmental racism through satellite-based measurements. The team utilized data from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) aboard multiple polar-orbiting satellites to measure ammonia concentrations in the atmosphere. Ammonia, a byproduct of swine waste, is a potent air pollutant that can cause a range of respiratory and environmental issues, including acid rain and the degradation of ecosystems.
By analyzing ammonia levels over a long-term period, the researchers were able to pinpoint the areas with the highest concentrations of NH₃, which largely corresponded to regions with high populations of Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous communities. The findings reveal a stark inequality in how industrial swine operations affect different demographic groups. Specifically, ammonia concentrations in these communities were found to be significantly higher compared to predominantly non-Hispanic white populations.
Between 2016 and 2021, ammonia concentrations were 27% higher for Black communities, 35% higher for Hispanic communities, and 49% higher for Indigenous communities when compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts. This data underscores a persistent pattern of environmental disparities that have been ongoing for over a decade.
The Impact of Weather Conditions on Pollution Disparities
The study also identifies an important weather-related factor that amplifies these disparities. Calm and hot weather conditions significantly exacerbate the concentration of ammonia pollutants in the air. On days with low wind speeds, pollutants from swine facilities are not dispersed effectively, causing ammonia to accumulate in the atmosphere and concentrate around residential areas. This results in a higher exposure to ammonia for surrounding communities, especially those already living in close proximity to the swine operations.
Moreover, hot weather plays an additional role by increasing ammonia emissions. Higher temperatures cause ammonia to evaporate from the waste produced by industrialized swine operations, further contributing to the pollutant’s presence in the air. The study showed that on calm days, ammonia disparities for Indigenous communities were more than twice as severe compared to days with windier conditions. On hot days, Black and Hispanic communities experienced heightened levels of ammonia exposure, making weather patterns a crucial factor in determining the extent of these environmental inequalities.
Widespread Environmental Impact Beyond Local Communities
A striking revelation of the study was the discovery that the environmental impacts of industrial swine operations extend far beyond their immediate vicinity. The satellite data revealed that elevated ammonia levels were detectable several kilometers downwind of swine feeding operations, especially under calm and hot weather conditions. This challenges the assertion often made by industry stakeholders that only individuals living directly near swine facilities are impacted by the air pollution they produce. The widespread nature of ammonia dispersion indicates that many more communities are affected by industrial swine operations than previously believed, particularly those living in rural and farming areas.
A Persistent Problem
The study also underscores the long-term nature of this environmental injustice. The satellite data spanning 15 years from 2008 to 2023 revealed that these disparities in ammonia concentrations have not improved over time. Despite years of research and public outcry from affected communities, the problem remains entrenched, pointing to a lack of effective regulatory action or oversight from federal and state agencies.
The Role of Industrial Agriculture in Environmental Racism
The findings from this study highlight a crucial aspect of environmental racism, where industrial agriculture, particularly in the form of industrialized swine farming, disproportionately impacts communities of color. The high concentration of swine facilities in rural areas of Eastern North Carolina, which is home to a large number of Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous residents, has led to systematic exposure to harmful pollutants, exacerbating health disparities in these communities.
As the study emphasizes, the current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations do not include ammonia under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), leaving a gap in the regulatory framework for air pollution. Ammonia, while a significant pollutant linked to swine operations, has largely been overlooked in environmental policy, further perpetuating the inequalities that affect these vulnerable populations.
Calls for Regulatory Action
In response to these findings, Sally Pusede and her research team have called for urgent action to address the inequalities highlighted by the study. “The satellite ammonia measurements are independent, observational evidence of inequalities in the air pollution impacts of industrial swine operations across Eastern North Carolina,” Pusede stated. “The satellite measurements are consistent with residents’ claims of unfair and unaddressed air quality issues and highlight the urgent need for regulatory action.”
The study’s findings call for more rigorous environmental policies that specifically address ammonia emissions from industrial swine facilities and enforce stricter air quality standards. The absence of federal regulations covering ammonia emissions is a critical oversight that needs to be rectified in order to protect the health and well-being of communities living in the shadow of these industrial operations.
Conclusion: A Need for Change
The UVA study has provided clear, data-backed evidence of the deep and lasting environmental inequalities faced by Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous communities living near industrial swine facilities in Eastern North Carolina. By utilizing satellite data, the researchers were able to reveal not only the geographic scope of these environmental disparities but also the weather-related factors that exacerbate them. The study challenges the narrative that only those living in close proximity to swine facilities are affected by ammonia pollution, demonstrating that the environmental impacts extend much farther than previously believed.
The findings underscore the importance of addressing environmental racism in industrial agriculture. It is clear that current regulatory frameworks are inadequate to protect vulnerable communities from the air pollution generated by industrial swine farming. The urgent call for policy reforms and the establishment of federal ammonia regulations is critical to ensuring that all communities, regardless of race or ethnicity, have access to clean air and a healthy environment. Until these inequalities are addressed, the burden of pollution will continue to fall unfairly on communities of color, perpetuating a cycle of environmental injustice that has lasted far too long.
Reference: Satellite observations of atmospheric ammonia inequalities associated with industrialized swine facilities in Eastern North Carolina, Environmental Science & Technology (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c11922. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.4c11922