LITITZ HAS UNSAFE WATER

For three decades, research has identified NITRATES in drinking water as potent environmental carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) linked to cancer of the brain, bladder, prostate, ovary, liver, esophagus, and colon.

Source: National Institutes of Health, Center for Disease Control, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: ATSDR-CSEM-Nitrate-Nitrite Toxicity Literature Cited.htm. See our Cancer page for more information.

Research by the Centers for Disease Control has shown high nitrate levels in the drinking water to be associated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), and to “Blue Baby” Syndrome causing death or developmental deficiencies.  

Source:
Morbidity and Mortality Report 26, Centers for Disease Control, (July 5, 1996); http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/00042839.htm

FERTILIZING WORSENS THE PROBLEM

Nitrate water pollution is a particular concern in communities near factory farms, also known as CAFOs, because they concentrate enormous amounts of animal waste in relatively small areas. Nitrates increase in water after rainfall, after farmers spread manure on land near the watershed, and if water treatment facilities experience operational difficulties. 

Sources: National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov/nceh/tracking; www.cdc.gov/cafos/about.htm; www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/resources; Pew Commission, www.ncifap.org

A WASTE MANAGEMENT CRISIS IS CREATED

A 10,000 hog factory farm operation produces as much waste in a day as a town of 25,000 humans. This puts an undue burden on waste removal, water treatment, and all environmental management systems. This affects taxpayers, elected officials -- everyone involved with using and providing public services, and of course, the public.

Source: The Sierra Club, www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/faq.asp

NITRATES ENDANGER THE LARGER WATERSHED

The Kreider Factory Farm and Rohrer’s Lexington Acres Factory Farms were built on the Lititz Run watershed, an endangered waterway providing drinking water for Lititz and Warwick Township residents.  The PA Department of Environmental Protection document: Internal Review and Recommendations of Rohrer Farms acknowledges significant public concern about the farm’s proximity to the watershed. In Dec, 2005, the farm was found not to comply with waste management standards set by the National Resources Conservation Center (www.nrcs.usda.gov).  In June, 2006, the PA Dept of Environmental Protection discovered manure seeping out of Rohrer’s barns.

Source:
PA Department of Environmental Protection Public File

FACTORY FARMS CAUSE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

The Union of Concerned Scientists has concluded that Factory Farms are a major contributor to antibiotic resistance in humans. Factory Farms use 70% of all the antibiotics in the U.S.A. on animals who are unnaturally crowded and stressed in CAFO environments. The human population develops antibiotic resistance through consuming factory farm animals (98% of all meat), and through water contamination.

Sources:
www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/antibiotic _resistance/index.cfm; www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/factsheets/antibiotics.asp

NITRATES CAUSE AIR POLLUTION & RESPIRATORY DISEASE:

Factory Farms are major contributors to health conditions related to air pollution.  Ammonia and Nitrate compounds are released into the air from animal manure storage pits. These and other toxic pollutants cause significant increases in bronchitis, asthma, and upper airway infections in people living near Factory Farms. Air pollution studies in communities where Factory Farms are allowed to operate have found that Factory Farms are more significant sources of Nitrogen air pollution than all surrounding industries in the community.

Source:
www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/factsheets/air.asp

NEARBY CAFOs RESULT IN A LOSS OF PROPERTY VALUE

Reductions in property values of properties near Factory Farms, particularly hog farms, have been demonstrated in studies of areas that allow Factory Farms to operate. For example, in one study, property assessments were reduced by 30% for properties within 1.5 miles of a hog factory farm, and 10% within two miles of the farm.

Source:
www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/factsheets/air.asp

CAFOs ARE SOURCES of UNSPEAKABLE ANIMAL CRUELTY

At the nearby Lexington Acres Factory Farm, a large scale CAFO, has over 2,800 sows, each permanently immobilized in a gestation crate, and giving birth to 50,000- 60,000 pigs each year.  Additionally, the nearby Kreider Factory Farm confines over 2900 cows and over 2 million chickens, also under appalling "factory farm" conditions, and further contributing to worries about water contamination.