Air pollution is usually associated with cities, or at least with urban sources of pollution such as factories, automobile and other vehicular traffic, etc.

But a new analysis by the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) points out that air pollution from industrial-scale livestock operations well outside city limits can also generate unhealthy levels of air pollution. <a href="http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/03_09_2011.php" target="_blank">See more here</a>.

Using recently released data from the Environmental Protection Agency, the EIP analysis found unsafe levels of fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) as well as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide at poultry and dairy operations in California, Indiana and a handful of other states.

The report noted that the unhealthy emissions might affect not only workers at the farms, but also residents in surrounding communities. Among its recommendations, the EIP report says “the Clean Air Act should protect rural residents, not just those living in major metropolitan areas.”