A Brief Introduction of Nutritional Facts
Meat can provide Protein, iron, and vitamin B-6 and B-12. Vitamin B-12 helps regulate nerve and blood cells, and vitamin B-6 helps convert Carbohydrates into Glucose-this produces energy. It also produces Serotonin; low levels of this can be associated with depression. However there are other sources to get these nutritional values that would also help the environment, and cut down factory farming.
The Harmful Effect of Meat Consumption on the Environment
How it affects the land
Vast meat consumption can be a problem for other countries seeing as less developed countries cut down forests and use their land to plant animal feed. The use of land to grow soy and other feed for animals causes deforestation, especially in the amazon. This also causes deterioration of soil, which can be a big problem as the earth's population grows.
As Horrigan mentions in Environmental Health Perspectives: “Excess nitrogen in soil can lead to less diversity of plant species, as well as reduced production of biomass”.
As Horrigan mentions in Environmental Health Perspectives: “Excess nitrogen in soil can lead to less diversity of plant species, as well as reduced production of biomass”.
How it affects the water
Around 250,000 square kilometers of coastal water suffer from oxygen deficiency because of wast and filth dumped into nearby water sources.This excess dumping also causes Dead Zones-areas in the ocean that are completely dead-no fish are seen here and no plants grow.
The U.S. Environmental Agency reported that waste from factory farms has polluted more than 173,000 miles of waterways.
The U.S. Environmental Agency reported that waste from factory farms has polluted more than 173,000 miles of waterways.
How it affects the air
Factory farming and the meat process uses a large amount of fossil-fuel energy. In addition to this the meat must be processed, packaged, and transported. The whole meat process is very energy intensive and causes great damage to the environment (Horrigan, 448). The fossil fuels burned to process the meat produce a lot of toxic chemicals that stay in the atmosphere.
Cows produce a lot of methane which can not break and add to the emission of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are good but in moderation. Too many greenhouse gases can increase the amount of heat trapped on Earth.
Cows produce a lot of methane which can not break and add to the emission of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are good but in moderation. Too many greenhouse gases can increase the amount of heat trapped on Earth.
Arial Views of Factory Farms
Health Risks-A Chain Reaction
As the meat Process is harming the environment, it is also affecting humans and their health. The Environmental Protection Agency warns that air pollutants may cause cancer, birth defects, and death. Pollution in the air from factory farms may cause asthma or even brain damage.
The waste dumped near human inhabited areas may also be toxic and contaminate residential drinking facilities. If the waste is not properly taken care of, it can lead to the spread of salmonella among chickens and their eggs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mentions that “chemical and infectious compounds from swine and poultry waste are able to migrate into soil and water”. This means bacteria and disease can easily spread to humans through the waste dumped into waters and the soil used for factory farming.
The waste dumped near human inhabited areas may also be toxic and contaminate residential drinking facilities. If the waste is not properly taken care of, it can lead to the spread of salmonella among chickens and their eggs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mentions that “chemical and infectious compounds from swine and poultry waste are able to migrate into soil and water”. This means bacteria and disease can easily spread to humans through the waste dumped into waters and the soil used for factory farming.