Bioethical Analysis of the Socio-Environmental Conflicts of a Pig Industry on a Chilean Rural Community

María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada (), Paulo Pasten (), Natalia Landeros, Cristian Valdés, Liliana Zúñiga-Venegas, Benjamín Castillo, Boris Lucero, Alexis Castillo and Rafael Junqueira Buralli
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María Teresa Muñoz-Quezada: Programa de Epidemiología, Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile
Paulo Pasten: Programa de Especialidad Médica de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8320000, Chile
Natalia Landeros: Centro Oncológico, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3466706, Chile
Cristian Valdés: Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3466706, Chile
Liliana Zúñiga-Venegas: Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3466706, Chile
Benjamín Castillo: Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3466706, Chile
Boris Lucero: Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Cognitivas CINPSI Neurocog, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3466706, Chile
Alexis Castillo: Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3466706, Chile
Rafael Junqueira Buralli: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-903, SP, Brazil

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-13

Abstract: Environmental conflicts, particularly within the pig industry in Chile, pose serious ecological, social, and economic challenges. This study focuses on analyzing the bioethical aspects of the ongoing environmental conflicts at an industrial pig farm in the Maule Region’s rural localities. Employing heuristic and hermeneutic methodologies, the research analyzed over 790 documents, such as environment agency reports, legislation, and community testimonials. The findings underscore severe environmental harm, highlighted by air and water pollution caused by waste and emissions from pig farms. These environmental issues correlate with significant health problems in the community, including respiratory diseases and psychological stress. Furthermore, the study outlines the socio-economic repercussions, such as unsustainable water use and the detrimental impacts on local agriculture and livelihoods. The findings advocate for the enhanced management of natural resources, further scientific investigation, and the adoption of sustainable practices to ensure environmental justice and improve the well-being of impacted communities.

Keywords: environmental health; swine farming; environmental justice; community health; rural economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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