Airborne Microorganisms Associated with Packaging Glass Sorting Facilities

Abstract

In recent years, efforts have been undertaken to reduce the volume of residual waste through sorting and recycling. The waste management and recycling sector is thriving and the number of workers there is increasing. In this context, prior knowledge of the risks to which workers may be exposed is of crucial importance, and preventive measures need to be put in place to accurately identify and quantify those risks. This study aimed to assess occupational risk of exposure to biological agents (viable bacteria and fungi) in a Portuguese waste packaging glass sorting plant. Air samples were collected from selected locations in waste sorting cabins (critical area, CA), administrative services (noncritical area, NCA) and outdoors (control point, CP). Duplicate air samples were collected through an impaction method. The investigation was carried out over an 8-mo period with two collection periods, autumn/winter (AW) and spring/summer (SS), in order to access the influence of any seasonal variation. In the 36 air samples collected, 319 bacterial and 196 mold identifications were performed. Air samples revealed existence of high environmental contamination by bacteria (1.6 × 10(4) colony forming units [cfu]/m(3)) and fungi (1.5 × 10(4) cfu/m(3)). The predominant bacterial genus was Staphylococcus (coagulase negative) with values ranging from 29.6 to 60% of the total count of bacteria. Genera Bacillus, Micrococcus, and Staphylococcus (coagulase negative) were also present at all sampling sites, regardless of the season. However, the counts of these genera, in the CA, were higher in warmer seasons. The genus Penicillium was the most frequent genus present with an approximate value of 95% of total fungal count in the CA. Seasonal variation was a significant factor for total bacteria and fungi, except for NCA versus CP. Overall, the highest levels of bacterial and fungal species (10(4) cfu/m(3)) were found in the waste sorting cabin (CA). These results highlight the importance of proper design and risk evaluation when planning a new waste facility, such that working conditions minimize proliferation of biological agents in the workplace.

Waste Workers’ Exposure to Airborne Fungal and Bacterial Species in the Truck Cab and During Waste Collection

“…A reason for the difference may partly be different climates. Microccocus , Staphylococcus , and Bacillus were the most frequent found genera in this study as well as in a study at a waste packaging glass sorting plant ( Pinto et al , 2015 ). Four different Streptomyces species were found in the workers’ exposure.…”

“…The workers were exposed to 11 different Penicillium species, and on average the genus constituted 84% of each worker’s fungal exposure. In waste sorting plants ( Malta-Vacas et al , 2012 ; Pinto et al , 2015 ) and at solid waste management plants ( Lehtinen et al , 2013 ) most airborne fungi also belonged to the genus Penicillium , but species were not identified. In a study with grass seed workers, four airborne Penicillium species ( P. brevicompactum , P. camemberti , P. chrysogenum , and P. commune ) were found ( Madsen et al , 2015 ), and these species were all among the species found in this study.…”

“…Exposure to bioaerosols during waste handling has been investigated in several countries ( Nielsen et al , 1995 ; Poulsen et al , 1995 a; Wouters et al , 2006 ; Lavoie et al , 2006 ; Park et al , 2011 ) in regards to exposure to endotoxin, β-glucan, fungi, or bacteria and type of waste handled. Penicillium has been reported to be the dominating fungal genus present in aerosols generated during waste handling ( Malta-Vacas et al , 2012 ; Lehtinen et al , 2013 ; Pinto et al , 2015 ), but Penicillium species are difficult to identify by microscopy and PCR-based methods ( Knutsen et al , 2012 ; Madsen et al , 2015 ), and no information is available on occupational exposure at species level. Staphylococcus , Bacillus , and Micrococcus have previously been found to be predominant bacterial genera present in the air at a waste packaging glass sorting plant, but the gram-negative genera Acinetobacter , Shigella , and Klebsiella were also present ( Pinto et al , 2015 ).…”

“…Penicillium has been reported to be the dominating fungal genus present in aerosols generated during waste handling ( Malta-Vacas et al , 2012 ; Lehtinen et al , 2013 ; Pinto et al , 2015 ), but Penicillium species are difficult to identify by microscopy and PCR-based methods ( Knutsen et al , 2012 ; Madsen et al , 2015 ), and no information is available on occupational exposure at species level. Staphylococcus , Bacillus , and Micrococcus have previously been found to be predominant bacterial genera present in the air at a waste packaging glass sorting plant, but the gram-negative genera Acinetobacter , Shigella , and Klebsiella were also present ( Pinto et al , 2015 ). To obtain knowledge on health effects of occupational exposure, it is important to acquire knowledge on exposure at species level ( Wéry, 2014 ) because specific species may cause infections ( Madsen et al , 2015 ), while some may cause inflammation of the airways and allergy ( Zhiping et al , 1996 ; Bünger et al , 2000 ; Douwes et al , 2003 ).…”

Bioaerosols and Health: Current Knowledge and Gaps in the Field of Waste Management

“…In a 13year follow-up study in Germany, van Kampen et al (2016) demonstrated that working as a compost worker for more than 5 years significantly increased the risk of coughing by an average of 28% and that for cough with phlegm by an average of 32%, suggesting an increased risk of chronic bronchitis. However, compared to controls, no higher inci- ADEME, 2012 ;Cerná et al, 2017;Degois et al 2017 ;Dutkiewicz, 1997 ;Huang et al, 2002 ;Kalwasinska et al, 2014 ;Krajewski et al, 2002 ;Lis et al, 2004 ;Madsen et al, Mbareche et al, 2018 ;Nielsen et al, 1997 ;Pinto et al, 2015 ;Rahkonen et al, 1990 ;Viegas et al, 2014 ;Wéry, 2014. dence of loss of respiratory function during the follow-up was observed in compost workers.…”