In the Netherlands, there is an ongoing debate regarding environmental health risks of exposures from livestock farming, in particular from swine and poultry farms. Residents of many (new) urban areas, located at close proximity from commercial farming activities, usually less than a few hundreds meters to a few kilometers, may be exposed to potentially harmful infectious and resistant microorganisms, gases, and dust particles containing toxins. There is little scientific information about health risks for neighboring residents of livestock farms, but the available literature suggests several potential community health risks, like zoonoses and respiratory health effects. The overall objective of the VGO study is to investigate whether environmental exposure to livestock farm emissions in the Netherlands poses a health risk among neighbouring residents. 

• prof. dr. ir. L.A. (Lidwien) Smit