7 Examining Agricultural Methane and Indoor Air Pollution in Iowa.

Agriculture: Methane.

As a local Iowan I am deeply aware of the pride we take in our agricultural activities and farming production. However, The agriculture industry is another major contributor to Iowa’s heavily polluted air and is affecting both rural and urban counties in this state. In recent years greenhouse gas emissions have quickly and steadily increased within our environment due to factors such as population growth, higher transportation rates and agriculture activities. Iowa’s agriculture sector is a major emitter of greenhouse gases, particularly methane which is considered a highly toxic gas. While having a relatively short lifespan within the atmosphere, this greenhouse gas is so potent and abundant within the environment it has the ability to contribute to the formation of other greenhouse gases including ozone and carbon dioxide all of which are currently present within Iowa’s air. (EG)

The Environmental Protection Agency states “Methane is the second most abundant anthropogenic GHG after carbon dioxide (CO2), accounting for about 11 percent of global emissions. Methane is more than 28 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.” (EPA:Importance of Methane, 2025). Iowa has an extremely dense population of factory farms that house cattle and hogs, in result an exceptionally high amount of methane is produced. “According to state estimates, agriculture contributes to 31 percent of Iowa’s greenhouse gas emissions, and is the state’s dominant emitter of methane” (Food and Water Watch: Factory Farms and Iowa’s Methane Emergency, 2024). (EG)

Methane is produced through manure handling and from the digestive process of these mammals, specifically in cattle methane is released through a process called enteric fermentation. For hogs a majority of methane is produced when manure is stored without oxygen. “Iowa today houses one-third of all U.S factory farmed hogs, over six times what the state did 40 years ago”. (Food and Water Watch: Factory Farms and Iowa’s Methane Emergency, 2024). Despite the significant environmental and health impact, Iowa has yet to fully implement comprehensive measures to reduce these emissions and address the associated adverse risks. (EG)

Indoor Air Pollution.

While many locals seem to be at least somewhat aware of the outside air pollution that is affecting Iowa’s air quality and aiding in air pollution, even more people are unaware of the pollutants that are released into Iowa’s homes everyday. Since these pollutants are trapped within the inside of homes they have the potential to become stagnant, last longer and are more concentrated than outdoor air pollutants. Leaving humans and home pets at high risk for these highly toxic elements, senior citizens, children and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are most at risk for indoor air pollutants. There are various sources of indoor air pollution which can make it highly difficult to isolate the problem. (EG)

Asbestos is a huge contributor to this pollution and can usually be found within the insulation of older homes. Homes or buildings that were built in 1978 or before are at the highest risk, compared to new or newly renovated homes. Heating systems and attached garages are other sources of highly toxic indoor air pollution, very common mistakes such as leaving the stove, fireplace or car running can cause build up of toxicants within the indoor area. It is especially dangerous because these toxins do not have the ability to escape homes and cannot be seen or smelled, making it extremely difficult to catch the problem before adverse health effects take place. If this pollution is not caught and treated in time it will eventually lead to unconsciousness and potential death, there have been many people who have taken their own lives from this exposure route. The National Library of Medecine states “The suicide methods most commonly utilized were firearm (44.6%), hanging/suffocation (25.2%), and poisoning (20.8%).” (Nashelsky, 2019). Understanding how environmental factors such as air pollution intersect with high-risk methods like firearms offers a more comprehensive view of suicide in the state. (EG)

The soil surrounding Iowans home may also be a source of indoor pollution and is very prevalent within Iowa today. Radon similar to carbon monoxide is a radioactive gas and is the second leading cause for lung cancer in the United States. This gas cannot be seen or smelled making it very difficult to detect and treat. Radon is a natural occurring gas in the environment and has the potential to seep into houses through cracks, leaks and poor maintenance. Rural areas struggle highly with proper maintenance of infrastructure and access to high quality materials, making it harder for Iowans to properly ventilate and seal walls and floorboards. If exposed to radon there are serious health consequences. Short term effects include respiratory irritation and decreased lung function, long term effects include high potential for lung cancer and death. (EG)

Iowa’s very hot and humid summers paired with frequent infrastructure leaks are ideal mold growing conditions. Luckily for local citizens mold spores can be seen and usually smelled, described as stale mildew. A significant indoor air pollutant mold can trigger asthma flare ups and cause different illnesses such as sick building syndrome (SDS) and Building Related Illness (BRI). Mold can also be considered an ambident air pollution and can highly affect crop yields, during harvest season mold growing conditions are ideal and significantly impact Iowa’s crop yields and grain quality. (EG)