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From protective effects to aggravated respiratory symptoms and pneumonia, the implications of livestock farming on public health has been varying. Warner van Kersen and colleagues are currently examining the respiratory tracts resident microorganisms (microbiome) of COPD patients, while assessing links with pneumonia is proving challenging during COVID.

Research into the effects of air pollution on respiratory health has grown considerably in recent years. Due to the outbreak of pneumonia causing Q-fever in the Netherlands in 2007, this concern spanned to livestock emissions and the respiratory health of neighbouring residents of livestock farms. Leading to the ongoing “Livestock farming and health of local residents” (VGO) project in the south of the Netherlands. Warner van Kersen is currently undergoing his PhD and has been involved in the VGO project since 2018, where he has been helping to assess the effects of livestock emissions on nearby chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

Previous research has indicated those with pre-existing conditions like COPD have reported an aggravation of their symptoms, leading to more precise areas of study. Therefore, van Kersen and his colleagues are now comparing the respiratory tract microbiome of COPD patients against healthy participants living within the same area, close to livestock farms. “One of the biologically plausible pathways by which ambient air pollution could affect respiratory health is through the microbiome”. Van Kersen’s contribution includes updating the computer systems being used to analyse the microbiome data, which proved outdated in previous analysis. While results so far show no significant differences in the microbiome of participants with mild COPD, further analysis of data is still needed.

Even post Q-fever, studies have indicated a strong association between pneumonia cases in residents living nearby to goat farms. Therefore, alongside COPD, an additional study of the VGO is continuing to investigate these links by recruiting pneumonia patients from GP practices. Unfortunately, due to COVID it has been difficult to continue this assessment, “COVID is causing a stir, general practitioners are reporting far fewer pneumonia cases than expected, likely due to respiratory symptoms being linked to COVID”. With these associations to pneumonia needing to be examined, it may not be until SARS-CoV-2 disappears before this question can finally be answered.

COVID is causing a stir, general practitioners are reporting far fewer pneumonia cases than expected, likely due to respiratory symptoms being linked to COVID.

Fortunately, analysis of COPD participants has not been hindered during COVID, unlike the pneumonia study. While still in the initial stages of these two studies, the VGO project is wide-ranging with many prospects for the future. Though the aim of these studies is not to shed negative light on livestock farming, “We should strongly consider the scale of livestock farming.” By properly understanding the mechanics behind health risks, both public health and the livestock sector could possibly benefit from less restrictive regulations.