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Med. Pr. 2001;52(6)

Assessment of exposure to bioaerosols in workplace ambient air during municipal waste collection and disposal

Ocena narażenia pracowników na bioaerozole, występujące w powietrzu na stanowiskach pracy w czasie zbierania i zagospodarowywani

J.A. Krajewski, J. Szarapińska-Kwaszewska, B. Dudkiewicz, M. Cyprowski, S. Tarkowski, J. Kończalik, G. Stroszejn-Mrowca

Abstract

The assessment of the exposure to bioaerosols among workers engaged in the collection and disposal of municipal waste is presented. The workers were divided into the following groups, depending on the job performed: waste collectors (loaders, drivers), composting plant workers (heavy equipment operators, waste site workers), sorters (heavy equipment operators, waste sorters) and landfill site workers (heavy equipment operators, weighers). Air samples were also collected on the city streets and in flats. They were reference points to the results obtained.
Air samples were collected at the breathing zone. The concentrations of dust, viable microorganisms (mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria, and fungi), endotoxins and the total number of microbiolcells were determined.
The highest, individual exposure to dust was found in composting plant workers and waste collectors. The values exceeded considerably maximum allowable concentrations (by ten times at composting plant). The mean values for the above listed groups also exceeded the concentration of 4 mg/m³.
Dust concentrations at other workposts were substantially lower. The concentrations in the city streets and in flats maintained at the level of 0.1 mg/m³.
Endotoxin concentration at a protecting upper airway inflammation level (10 ng/m³)was exceeded in the majority (above 50%) of samples. That is why the average concentration in individual groups was also higher than 10 ng/m3. Street and flat samples included endotoxins at the level of 1 ng/m³.
Taking as a criterion the obligatory total dust and endotoxin MAC value of 10 ng/m³ for assessing work hygiene conditions,it should be stated that waste collectors and composting plant workers were employed in conditions of poor hygiene.

Key words

municipal waste, bioaerosols, occupational exposure, criteria for hygiene assessment, endotoxins

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