Clean air near livestock farms

Bacteria that live within livestock have endotoxins in their cell walls. These toxins travel out into the open on dust emitted by the livestock farm with the out-flowing ventilation air. If they reach human lungs, endotoxins can cause inflammation. Wageningen University & Research and some scientific partners are developing computer models that can calculate endotoxin concentrations in the air in the vicinity of livestock farms. They also examine if the concentrations are related to any health problems amongst residents. The study helps policy-makers to develop emission reduction policies, if necessary.