Safe Distance To Live From A Farm

Rural Living: Is Living Near a Farm Safe?

We all know how important farming is in our everyday lives. They provide us with various foods as well as other essentials that are crucial for the functioning of our society.

But even though farms help improve our lives, there are some drawbacks to them, especially for people living close to them. So, this begs the question: What is a safe distance to live from a farm?

What Is A Safe Distance To Live From A Farm?

In general, it’s recommended to live at least one kilometer away from a farm. At this distance, you’re very unlikely to experience any negative health implications or other issues.

Experts have mixed opinions when it comes to a safe distance to live from a farm. This is because it greatly depends on several factors. If you own a farm, it’s also important to remember to ensure that any habitable area should be located away from crops, pesticides, and farm animals.

Following these safety guidelines is crucial to maintaining good health.

What are the dangers of living close to a farm?

Farm

Living on or close to a farm, while beneficial, comes with some dangers. Obviously, the danger is much greater for those working at a farm, but it also applies to people living nearby.

First of all, it’s important to consider the use of pesticides and other chemicals. In fact, studies show that people living close to a farm are at a higher risk of several health problems.

These include brain cancer, infertility, miscarriage, Parkinson’s disease, immune system damage, leukemia, developmental brain damage in children, and more.

While it’s not certain someone living near a farm will encounter any of these problems, it’s important to keep in mind the increased risk.

On top of that, people living close to an agricultural farm might experience gastrointestinal, dermatological, respiratory, and reproductive changes as a result of pesticide usage.

Pesticide usage

What’s more, living nearby a farm also means living close to farm animals. In general, most farm animals aren’t dangerous, but some of them might carry diseases and viruses dangerous to humans.

So, while farmers are at a higher risk, those living close might also be affected.

Living close to a large-scale livestock farm also means lots of air pollution. It negatively impacts your lungs and can impair the respiratory development of young children.

So, be sure to keep that in mind when living close to a farm or when you consider moving.

Is it dangerous to live close to a solar farm?

Solar Farm

Solar farms are large-scale grids that generate electricity and energy through the power of the sun. They’re becoming increasingly popular since they’re not as harmful to animals as other forms of energy production.

Still, many people worry that solar farms are dangerous to their health since they produce electromagnetic fields.

Luckily, studies show that exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields, such as those produced by solar farms, doesn’t pose any serious health risks.

As a result, there’s no need to consider moving away from a solar farm or choose not to buy a house close to one.

That said, houses particularly close to solar farms (about 0.1 miles or 200 meters) might experience a decline in property value. And that’s something to keep in mind if you ever choose to sell your house in the future.

Because of that, experts recommend living at least 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles) away from a solar farm.

Is it more dangerous for children to live close to a farm?

Virginia Farm

Health problems caused by living close to a farm can affect anyone. But some studies indicate that children might be at a higher risk.

First of all, the pesticides and other chemicals used on a farm have been linked to higher rates of child cancers, immune system damage, developmental brain damage, and other similar issues.

While adults are also at risk of these and more conditions, children might be more vulnerable.

In addition to that, farm animals often carry diseases and bacteria that are very dangerous to humans.

They may even be carriers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. So, keeping proper hygiene is very important, especially for children.

On the other hand, farm animals might be dangerous when startled or upset. For example, horses, chickens, cows, and pigs can all harm a child when left unsupervised.

So, if you live next to a farm and know that your child has the possibility of accessing these animals, be sure to take certain safety precautions to avoid injuries.

Should you buy a house close to a farm?

Farms

Since there are quite a lot of dangers coming from living close to a farm, you may want to think twice before purchasing a house close to one.

For example, people with respiratory problems should live as far away from a farm as possible. This is because the use of pesticides and other chemicals at a farm can worsen these conditions.

In addition, people with small children may also want to live further away from a farm than the standard recommendation.

Young children are particularly prone to developmental problems caused by pesticides. In addition, if the farm close to your house has animals, they might be a danger to your kids if they encounter them.

With that being said, it’s important to remember that not every single person who lives nearby a farm will experience negative side effects as a result of that.

Most people can safely live next to a farm without any problems for many years.

But if you have any preexisting health conditions, you may want to reconsider moving close to a farm to avoid worsening them.

Conclusion

Living next to a farm does come with some dangers, so it’s important to follow the recommended guidelines for a safe distance for residential properties.

The same goes for people working on a farm: be sure to keep habitable quarters away from the agricultural parts.

Still, it doesn’t mean that no one should live near a farm. It only means that if you do, you should be careful and stick to recommended guidelines.

Sources: PMC, Science Direct, and Reuters

Please follow and like us: