Mitigating Air Pollution: Understanding the Nexus between Livestock Farming and Environmental Health

Livestock farming is a significant contributor to air pollution, emitting pollutants such as ammonia, methane, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter. Despite growing concerns, there remains a need for comprehensive understanding and effective mitigation strategies. This review aims to address this gap by synthesizing existing literature, identifying key challenges, and proposing mitigation strategies for reducing air pollution from livestock farming. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing emissions from different types of livestock operations, including feedlot, dairy, and poultry farms. It highlights the spatial and temporal variability of emissions, the interaction with environmental factors, and the effectiveness of various mitigation technologies and management practices. The aim of this article to comprehensively examine the linkages between livestock farming and air pollution, elucidate the mechanisms driving emissions, assess their impacts on air quality and public health, and propose strategies for mitigating environmental degradation. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify relevant studies on emissions from livestock farming and their mitigation. Key databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and grey literature. The analysis reveals that feed composition, housing design, manure management, and environmental conditions significantly influence emissions from livestock operations. Nutritional interventions, advanced manure management technologies, emission control systems, and policy interventions are identified as promising strategies for reducing air pollution from livestock farming. Livestock farming is a significant source of air pollution, but effective mitigation strategies are available. By addressing the factors driving emissions and implementing targeted interventions, the environmental impacts of livestock production can be minimized while ensuring food security and economic sustainability.