Background: The swine industry has undergone an extensive reconstruction process in size, location, and infrastructure shifting from small farms to confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Large numbers of swine in small confined areas produce a multitude of environmental contaminants that may lead to adverse outcomes, particularly for rural non-White and poor populations. The purpose of this study was to examine spatial and sociodemographic disparities associated with industrial swine production in South Carolina (SC) using census data.
Methods: A 2008 list of swine CAFOs was obtained from SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and linked with demographic variables from the 2000 census by tract ID using R. Spatial methods were employed using ArcGIS 10 to assess the distribution of African-American and low-income populations in proximity to CAFOs. The impact of race and poverty on the presence of CAFOs was quantified within quintiles using logistic regression. Moreover, relative risk estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated between quintiles.
Results: Areas with fewer African-Americans (40% quintile) hosted 15% of CAFOs while 85% were located in predominantly African-American areas (60% quintile). More affluent areas (40% quintile) hosted 7% of CAFOs while 93% were found in high-poverty areas (60% quintile). Swine density/person in predominantly African-American areas (upper 20% quintile) was 60 times higher than in less diverse areas (lower 20% quintile) and 600 times higher in high-poverty areas (upper 20% quintile) compared to low-poverty areas (lower 20% quintile).Differences between the lowest and highest 20% quintiles of percent African-American and poverty in rural areas were insignificant. Furthermore, the percentage of African-Americans and poverty decreased as the distance between CAFOs and tracts increased up to10 miles; however, there was no apparent association after 10 miles.
Conclusion: There is an inequitable distribution of swine CAFOs among low-income populations and communities of color in SC which has major human health and environmental implications. While this study elucidates burden disparities, future work should assess specific exposures and examine federal and state CAFO standards in order to construct targeted interventions.
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