- Home » Expat News » Huge Andalusian pig farms threaten expat health and poison groundwater
Huge Andalusian Pig Farms Threaten Expat Health And Poison Groundwater
Published: | 2 Apr at 6 PM |
Want to get involved?
Become a
Featured Expatand take our interview.
Become a
Local Expertand contribute articles.
Get in
touchtoday!
Expats in Andalusia fear massive pig farms are poisoning local water supplies.
The development of intensive pig farming in Spain’s popular retirement destination is causing worry and distress to British expats living in the region. Over the past several years, giant agrifood company Grupo Fuertes has sited pig farms holding millions of animals all across the Spanish provinces of Granada and Almeria, with locals and expatriates now concerned about the cancer risks of pig slurry seeping into local underground water aquifers. Expatriates living all across the region are now scared about the safety of their underground water supplies, as local governments don’t ensure all communities are supplied with treated municipal water.
Founder of one local action group Nicky Lawson told local media that residents rely heavily on underground water which can be easily contaminated by carcinogenic run-off from the storage pits on the farms. The pits themselves hold the slurry, allowing it to become concentrated and even more dangerous to human health. Green protestor group Ecologistas en Accion have already filed a complaint with the governing junta regarding the fate of the local colonies of rare birds including endangered Red Kites, all of which depend on groundwater. One London expat and his partner living 40m from a pig farm which is now being doubled in size told reporters the farm is a blot on the landscape which wouldn’t have been allowed in the UK. When asked for a statement, Grupo Fuertes declined to comment.
Pig slurry has long been recognised as being harmful to human health, as it contains pathogens, staphylococcus aureus bacteria, antimicrobials, antibiotics, phosphorus, ammonia and nitrogen, all of which when introduced into groundwater make it unfit to drink. Humans living in close proximity to large pig farms can develop infections, respiratory diseases, cancer and other illnesses, especially if tainted water is being used and consumed. The nitrogen in the slurry can also cause acid rain, and the unpleasant odour from the farms is known to cause hypertension and high blood pressure.
Comments » No published comments just yet for this article...
Feel free to have your say on this item. Go on... be the first!
RECENT NEWS
Your Guide To Understanding Financial Jargon And The Market
The more uncertainty there is in global financial markets, it seems the more voices there are using complicated language... Read more
What Is A Provisional Assessment And What Are Its Pros And Cons?
In this article, Viviënne Wormsbecher from Blue Umbrella explains what a provisional assessment in the Netherlands look... Read more
Dealing With Micro-stressors When Moving To A New Country
Much is written and spoken about the large stressful changes you must deal with when moving to a new country, such as ho... Read more
Tokenisation: How To Digitalise Your Dutch Company
Looking to digitalise the assets from your Dutch company? Dennis Vermeulen from House of Companies defines tokenisation... Read more
The Ins And Outs Of Dutch Culture: Your Guide To Integration
In this guide from international moving company AGS Global Solutions Netherlands, they explore the essential tips for ad... Read more
Job Interviews In The Netherlands: A Guide For Internationals
Are you currently looking for a new job as an international in the Netherlands? The team from Undutchables presents this... Read more