Animal Feed Causes Smog

Findings released last Wednesday from a study on the causes of smog in San Joaquin Valley, Calif., suggest that cattle feed, not just automotive exhaust, may be responsible for the area’s high levels of ozone gas. San Joaquin Valley, a moderately populated agricultural community, exhibits greater smog rates than more densely populated and car-centric cities. Scientists say that the greater rates are due to how fermented livestock feed interacts with automotive exhaust. Emissions of reactive organic gases produced by livestock combine with combustion emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles and sunlight to form smog. The study suggests that there is a direct relationship between a reduction in animal consumption and decreased environmental impact.