Human Health Effects
Finally, the overuse of antibiotics in livestock production agriculture poses human health risks. The worst risk that overuse presents is bacterial resistance. Bacterial resistance is when a certain strain of bacteria becomes immune to an antibiotic that is used to treat the bacterial strain. The low-level exposure of antibiotics in feed are almost encouraging the bacteria to develop a resistance to antibiotics. Editor Noah Berlatsky explained that this resistance is particularly dangerous because it enables bacteria to survive and reproduce instead of being destroyed (“Reducing Antibiotics” par. 4). The resistant bacteria survive and multiply causing the antibiotic to no longer be effective on that particular strain. Debra A. Miller, editor of the article, added that for each antibiotic used, the possibility of creating a stronger more resistant strain of bacteria arises (“Seventy Percent” par. 2-4). These resistant strains of bacteria will not only affect the animals, but will also affect humans. Many of the same antibiotics used in modern human medicine are also used in livestock production, and this poses a huge human health risk. Author Michael Khoo estimates that four times as many antibiotics were used for agricultural production than for health care purposes (par. 3). This high amount of antibiotics used means that every second the bacteria are getting more and more resistant and this extremely shortens the life of each antibiotic for human or animal use. In the article "Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture Is Dangerous and Unnecessary" the true value of the damage of resistant antibiotics was shown: “Antibiotic-resistant infections in the United States from all sources cost an estimated $30 billion every year and kill 90,000 people” ( par. 34). The most common and strongest strains are more harmful to humans if the bacteria becomes resistant. To conclude, bacterial resistance can become a problem very quickly, especially when humans and livestock both use the same antibiotics. The simplest fix to this issue is to ban the use of antibiotics in production of livestock.
Furthermore, the harmful bacteria can travel from the animal to human in many ways. The editor of the article, Debra A. Miller, portrays the three main ways the bacteria spreads is via food, animals, or environment. The first method, bacteria spreading through food, is very simple. The bacteria can be found on the retailed meat packages and throughout the grocery store. The bacteria is transferred onto the products easily by the environment. The second, environment, is an easy way to transfer bacteria as it is full of bacteria. The water, air, and ground contain many separate strains of bacteria that can be easily spread. The consumer acquires most of the bacteria from his or her environment. The third and final, animal contact, is the simplest method of transfer. The individual comes into contact with the animal or it’s manure, and the bacteria is obtained by the human (“Seventy Percent” par. 7). In addition, animal waste is by far the biggest issue with transferring bacteria. If waste is not properly handled, it can enter drinking water and other vital necessities. According to Jay Graham, “Each year, confined food animals produce an estimated 335 million tons of waste, which is deposited on land and enters water sources” (par. 14). This waste can seep into drinking water and taint nearby soil. In the article “Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture Is Dangerous and Unnecessary” the fact is explained that, in some cases, the manure may even be used to fertilize plants for human consumption (par. 10). This example shows how a majority of the bacteria finds its way into local grocery stores. The transfer of bacteria is very dangerous and causes the major health risks to humans and the development of bacterial resistance.
Moreover, modern medicine has been heavily impacted by the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture. Bacterial resistance is wiping out the general antibiotics used to treat many types of bacteria. These more resistant bacteria strains are becoming more difficult to treat and are taking longer periods of time to recover from the sickness. An example, given by editor Noah Berlatsky, is food poisoning episodes are lasting longer. The bacteria is entering the human gut, colonizing, then building a resistance to the antibiotic given (“Antibiotic Use” par. 12). According to the Star Tribune, an estimated two million people develop antibiotic-resistant infections each year and about 23,000 of these people die due to the infection (par. 4). These statistics reinforce how dangerous bacteria are and how these antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria can be hard to cure. Another reason bacterial resistance to modern medicine is developing is because of patients not completing their prescriptions of the antibiotics. The patient will administer the antibiotic until they feel better, and then they will stop. If the patient does not take the antibiotic until the required date, then the bacteria may not be entirely killed. Editor Debra A. Miller explained that the remaining bacteria could then colonize and grow while developing a resistance to that particular antibiotic (“Seventy Percent” par. 3-4 ). This is an issue that causes a large part of the medically induced resistance cases. In response, The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act was proposed. The act would remove several types of antibiotics from the hands of agricultural livestock producers, thus reducing bacterial resistance (“Reducing Antibiotics” par. 18). By removing these antibiotics, the number of cases of resistance would decrease. Modern medicine could continue its methods of fighting bacterial issues without the numerous concerns. Ultimately, the effect of banning or limiting antibiotic use in livestock production could benefit the modern medical field.
Conversely, the opposition argues that the bacterial resistance is not related to the agriculture livestock production antibiotic use. They are blaming the development of resistance on the medical field. Overuse is happening in both the medical and livestock production side, but the opposition is claiming that the majority is from the medical field. The author, Gary Weber, argues that “However, most scientists agree that the improper use of antibiotics in human medicine is the greatest contributing factor in the formation of resistant bacteria affecting humans. Antibiotic use in animal agriculture makes a very small contribution to the resistance issue…” (par. 6). The antibiotic use in the medical field plays a minor part in the development in bacterial resistance compared to livestock production. This was proven when Michael Khoo stated, “About 13 million pounds [of antibiotics] a year are fed to chickens, cows, and pigs to make them grow faster or to compensate for unsanitary conditions. That's about four times the amount used to treat sick people” (par. 3). The sheer size of this number is outstanding if compared to the previously stated estimate of two million bacterial resistance cases each year shown by the Star Tribune. The amount of antibiotics used in animal production cannot get overlooked. In conclusion, the opposition blames the development of bacterial resistance on the medical field although the facts point elsewhere.
Furthermore, the harmful bacteria can travel from the animal to human in many ways. The editor of the article, Debra A. Miller, portrays the three main ways the bacteria spreads is via food, animals, or environment. The first method, bacteria spreading through food, is very simple. The bacteria can be found on the retailed meat packages and throughout the grocery store. The bacteria is transferred onto the products easily by the environment. The second, environment, is an easy way to transfer bacteria as it is full of bacteria. The water, air, and ground contain many separate strains of bacteria that can be easily spread. The consumer acquires most of the bacteria from his or her environment. The third and final, animal contact, is the simplest method of transfer. The individual comes into contact with the animal or it’s manure, and the bacteria is obtained by the human (“Seventy Percent” par. 7). In addition, animal waste is by far the biggest issue with transferring bacteria. If waste is not properly handled, it can enter drinking water and other vital necessities. According to Jay Graham, “Each year, confined food animals produce an estimated 335 million tons of waste, which is deposited on land and enters water sources” (par. 14). This waste can seep into drinking water and taint nearby soil. In the article “Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture Is Dangerous and Unnecessary” the fact is explained that, in some cases, the manure may even be used to fertilize plants for human consumption (par. 10). This example shows how a majority of the bacteria finds its way into local grocery stores. The transfer of bacteria is very dangerous and causes the major health risks to humans and the development of bacterial resistance.
Moreover, modern medicine has been heavily impacted by the overuse of antibiotics in agriculture. Bacterial resistance is wiping out the general antibiotics used to treat many types of bacteria. These more resistant bacteria strains are becoming more difficult to treat and are taking longer periods of time to recover from the sickness. An example, given by editor Noah Berlatsky, is food poisoning episodes are lasting longer. The bacteria is entering the human gut, colonizing, then building a resistance to the antibiotic given (“Antibiotic Use” par. 12). According to the Star Tribune, an estimated two million people develop antibiotic-resistant infections each year and about 23,000 of these people die due to the infection (par. 4). These statistics reinforce how dangerous bacteria are and how these antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria can be hard to cure. Another reason bacterial resistance to modern medicine is developing is because of patients not completing their prescriptions of the antibiotics. The patient will administer the antibiotic until they feel better, and then they will stop. If the patient does not take the antibiotic until the required date, then the bacteria may not be entirely killed. Editor Debra A. Miller explained that the remaining bacteria could then colonize and grow while developing a resistance to that particular antibiotic (“Seventy Percent” par. 3-4 ). This is an issue that causes a large part of the medically induced resistance cases. In response, The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act was proposed. The act would remove several types of antibiotics from the hands of agricultural livestock producers, thus reducing bacterial resistance (“Reducing Antibiotics” par. 18). By removing these antibiotics, the number of cases of resistance would decrease. Modern medicine could continue its methods of fighting bacterial issues without the numerous concerns. Ultimately, the effect of banning or limiting antibiotic use in livestock production could benefit the modern medical field.
Conversely, the opposition argues that the bacterial resistance is not related to the agriculture livestock production antibiotic use. They are blaming the development of resistance on the medical field. Overuse is happening in both the medical and livestock production side, but the opposition is claiming that the majority is from the medical field. The author, Gary Weber, argues that “However, most scientists agree that the improper use of antibiotics in human medicine is the greatest contributing factor in the formation of resistant bacteria affecting humans. Antibiotic use in animal agriculture makes a very small contribution to the resistance issue…” (par. 6). The antibiotic use in the medical field plays a minor part in the development in bacterial resistance compared to livestock production. This was proven when Michael Khoo stated, “About 13 million pounds [of antibiotics] a year are fed to chickens, cows, and pigs to make them grow faster or to compensate for unsanitary conditions. That's about four times the amount used to treat sick people” (par. 3). The sheer size of this number is outstanding if compared to the previously stated estimate of two million bacterial resistance cases each year shown by the Star Tribune. The amount of antibiotics used in animal production cannot get overlooked. In conclusion, the opposition blames the development of bacterial resistance on the medical field although the facts point elsewhere.