PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AND MALODOUR EXPOSURE: THE IMPACT OF AN INTENSIVE PIG FARMING OPERATION ON A COMMUNITY IN TRINIDAD Tasha Ragoobar, Wayne Ganpat and Kern Rocke Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad Email: wayne.ganpat@sta.uwi.edu Abstract: There is a high demand for pork products in Trinidad because of its lower cost compared to other meats and its preferential taste. Erin farm in Trinidad is the largest piggery in the country. Intensive livestock production has been shown to produce a large amount of biological waste which can be harmful to human health. This study investigated the impact of malodors from this piggery on the physical health of persons in the surrounding community. Direct measures of gases were done over a 3 month period and community members were surveyed using a questionnaire to determine their perception of the severity of the malodors and the frequency of selected health-related symptoms. Repeat measures were done in a matched community some 5000m away from the piggery. Data were assessed using paired t- tests, chi square and multiple regression analysis. Results showed: significant differences in ammonia and hydrogen sulphide levels between the test and control communities (p<.001 level) and significantly higher incidences of health symptoms (p<.05 level) between the communities (headaches, eye, nose and throat issues, wheezing, sneezing, shortness of breath, difficulty in concentration and general discomfort. Regression results showed that higher adverse malodour ratings significantly impacted health status of residents living close to the piggery (P<.001). Findings suggest intervention by The Environmental Management Agency to mediate in this community to have a solution in which the farm can continue to operate and the residents’ health is not further compromised. Keywords: Physical Well-being; Malodour; Intensive Pig Farming; Caribbean. Introduction Food insecurity has continued to increase substantially in middle and low income country settings, and as such, there is need to increase the production of both crops and livestock to feed vulnerable and underprivileged populations. Intensive pig farming refers to a farming system in which pigs are reared using industrial animal agricultural practices; characterised by use of a large input of financial and labour resources to improve production. As pig production increases, one result is the production of a large amount of waste and foul odours[1, 2]. It has been shown that livestock, especially, intensive pig farming operations, produces a large amount of biological waste which can become harmful to human health [3]. International Journal of Science, Environment ISSN 2278-3687 (O) and Technology, Vol. 5, No 2, 2016, 327 – 340 2277-663X (P) Received Feb 22, 2016 * Published April 2, 2016 * www.ijset.net