The number of factory farms in the United States has been increasing very quickly. Many studies have already shown that factory farms can harm air quality by increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and they can also harm the health of the workers and community members who live nearby. Historically, however, these studies haven’t changed policy.

This was a scoping review, so I reviewed many papers that examined the health impacts of factory farms. These papers found increased odds of uterine cancer deaths in areas where there are factory farms, as well as high levels of antibiotic resistance, among other health problems. In general, living close to a factory farm may worsen health in the local community. I also noted that many workers are foreign-born, low-income, and people of color, which contributes to health disparities—yet they are still not being protected.

Factory farms are currently exempted from many national air pollution regulations. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency still lacks an effective method for measuring farm emissions despite the Clean Air Act. I think factory farms need more regulation and oversight on the national, state, and local levels, not just for emissions but also for the health and safety of workers.