Poultry farming is one of the most efficient animal husbandry methods and it provides nutritional security to a significant number of the world population. Using modern intensive farming techniques, global production has reached 133.4 mil. t in 2020, with a steady growth each year. Such intensive growth methods however lead to a significant environmental footprint. Waste materials such as poultry litter and manure can pose a serious threat to environmental and human health, and need to be managed properly. Poultry production and waste by-products are linked to NH₃, N₂O and CH₄ emissions, and have an impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as animal and human health. Litter and manure can contain pesticide residues, microorganisms, pathogens, pharmaceuticals (antibiotics), hormones, metals, macronutrients (at improper ratios) and other pollutants which can lead to air, soil and water contamination as well as formation of antimicrobial/multidrug resistant strains of pathogens. Dust emitted from intensive poultry production operations contains feather and skin fragments, faeces, feed particles, microorganisms and other pollutants, which can adversely impact poultry health as well as the health of farm workers and nearby inhabitants. Fastidious odours are another problem that can have an adverse impact on health and quality of life of workers and surrounding population. This study discusses the current knowledge on the impact of intensive poultry farming on environmental and human health, as well as taking a look at solutions for a sustainable future.

Good quality of the environment in indoor spaces is an important prerequisite for the health, well-being and productivity of office workers. In cases where poor indoor environmental quality threatens the health and well-being of employees, it is important for the employer to undertake the necessary steps to address these issues. However, very often the employer is not well informed on the proper way to implement the required changes, which can result in suboptimal results and waste of resources. In this work we discuss these issues starting from a case study of the actions taken by the occupational safety and health services at a university situated in the city of Gdańsk, Poland, after complaints regarding health problems and poor well-being due to inadequate indoor air quality, lodged by office workers of the university human resources department. Particular focus is given to the legislative and regulatory aspects of indoor air quality in the European Union and Poland, as well as the impact of remediation. Finally, a suggested general course of action is presented aimed at presenting employers with a procedure for positive resolution of the reported issues using effective methods.