title: Investigating the role of state and local health departments in addressing public health concerns related to industrial food animal production sites.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence of community health concerns stemming from industrial food animal production (IFAP) facilities continues to accumulate. This study examined the role of local and state health departments in responding to and preventing community-driven concerns associated with IFAP.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with state and county health department staff and community members in eight states with high densities or rapid growth of IFAP operations. We investigated the extent to which health concerns associated with IFAP sites are reported to health departments, the nature of health departments' responses, and barriers to involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Health departments' roles in these matters are limited by political barriers, lack of jurisdiction, and finite resources, expertise, and staff. Community members reported difficulties in engaging health departments on these issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our investigation suggests that health departments frequently lack resources or jurisdiction to respond to health concerns related to IFAP sites, resulting in limited engagement. Since agencies with jurisdiction over IFAP frequently lack a health focus, increased health department engagement may better protect public health.
authors: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. jfry@jhsph.edu
authors: Jillian P
authors: JP
authors: Fry
authors: Linnea I
authors: LI
authors: Laestadius
authors: Clare
authors: C
authors: Grechis
authors: Keeve E
authors: KE
authors: Nachman
authors: Roni A
authors: RA
authors: Neff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019649:Food Industry; D059022:Food Safety; D005523:Food Supply; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D008460:Meat; D011634:Public Health; D011635:Public Health Administration; D013219:State Government; D013552:Swine; D014481:United States
references: Environ Health Perspect. 2000 Mar;108(3):233-8
references: 10706529
references: Am J Public Health. 2009 Nov;99 Suppl 3:S610-5
references: 19890165
references: J Anim Sci. 2011 Dec;89(12):4364-9
references: 21821805
references: Brain Res Bull. 1995;37(4):369-75
references: 7620910
references: J Water Health. 2010 Dec;8(4):646-70
references: 20705978
references: Environ Health. 2011 Aug 12;10:72
references: 21838896
references: J Anim Sci. 2010 Apr;88(13 Suppl):E102-11
references: 20154166
references: Am J Public Health. 2011 Aug;101(8):1495-500
references: 21750282
references: Am J Public Health. 2011 Apr;101(4):609-15
references: 20558799
references: Environ Health Perspect. 2000 Mar;108(3):225-31
references: 10706528
references: Ann Agric Environ Med. 2004;11(2):163-73
references: 15627320
references: Epidemiology. 2007 May;18(3):300-8
references: 17435437
references: Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Apr;114(4):591-6
references: 16581551
references: Epidemiology. 2011 Mar;22(2):208-15
references: 21228696
references: Am J Public Health. 2004 Oct;94(10):1703-8
references: 15451736
references: J Public Health Manag Pract. 2006 Nov-Dec;12(6):522-7
references: 17041299
references: Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Mar;113(3):350-6
references: 15743727
references: J Agric Saf Health. 2008 Apr;14(2):163-87
references: 18524283
references: Am J Public Health. 2007 Apr;97 Suppl 1:S163-9
references: 17413060
references: J Public Health Manag Pract. 2009 Nov;15(6 Suppl):S40-5
references: 19829228
references: Environ Health Perspect. 2002 Apr;110 Suppl 2:195-201
references: 11929728
references: Arch Environ Health. 2004 Feb;59(2):101-8
references: 16075904
references: Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Feb;115(2):308-12
references: 17384784
references: Am J Prev Med. 2012 May;42(5 Suppl 1):S29-41
references: 22502924
references: J Agric Saf Health. 2002 May;8(2):175-84
references: 12046804
references: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998 Nov;158(5 Pt 2):S1-S76
references: 9817727
references: Environ Health Perspect. 2002 May;110(5):437-44
references: 12003746