Extension of the sorting instructions for household plastic packaging and changes in exposure to bioaerosols at materials recovery facilities

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

“…Measurement uncer-tainty might be factor of variation; however, waste composition, extended residual waste collection cycles, enclosed vs. open air facility, types of process, season, tasks being performed and control measures in place are major potential determinant factors of bioaerosol concentration in the air (Gladding et al, 2003;Gladding and Gwyther, 2017;Persoons et al, 2010, Schlosser et al, 2009Sykes et al, 2011;Wouters et al, 2006). Processes that are particularly associated with high levels of exposure to bioaerosols are all sources of mechanical agitation (waste unloading, stored waste handling, shredding, screening, windrow turning, material transfer operations, truck loading) or tasks involving manual agitation of waste (manual sorting of waste, cleaning and maintenance operations, blockage clearing) (Millner et al, 1994;Persoons et al, 2010;Sanchez-Monedero et al, 2005;Schlosser et al, 2009Schlosser et al, , 2015Taha et al, 2006). In addition, vehicle traffic on dirty roadways contributes to bioaerosol emission (Epstein et al, 2001;Millner et al, 1994;Reinthaler et al 2004).…”

“…The highest levels of exposure to airborne bacteria and fungi have been reported at composting sites and mechanical biological treatment (MBT) facilities (Pearson et al, 2015;Persoons et al, 2010;Schlosser et al, 2009;Searl, 2008;Sykes et al, 2011;Tolvanen and Hänninen, 2005;Wouters et al, 2006) , followed by material recovery facilities (MRFs) and during waste collection operation (Cerna et al, 2017;Gladding and Coggins, 1997;Lavoie et al, 2002;Madsen et al, 2016;Neumann et al, 2002;Nielsen et al, 1995;Schlosser et al, 2015;Würtz and Breum, 1997) (Figure 1). These exposure levels were 100 to 100,000 times higher than highest outdoor background levels.…”

“…Case reports of respiratory disease in waste workers, with either immune-allergic, non-allergic inflammatory or infectious mechanism, provide evidence in support of an association with bioaerosol exposure in composting plants and in MRFs (reviewed by: ADEME, 2012; Schlosser et al, 2009Schlosser et al, , 2015Swan et al, 2003). However, case reporting does not mean a confirmed excess of risk, and epidemiological investigations are necessary to estimate whether the risk is significantly increased in exposed workers and how large this increase may be.…”

“…Biodegradable fractions of waste include: (1) biowaste segregated by households and commercial and industrial activities and (2) the organic matter/waste fraction that remains in dry recovered waste and in residual waste when dry solid waste is segregated by households for separate collection. (Park et al, 2011a ;Schlosser et al, 2015 ;Tolvanen et al, 2001Tolvanen et al, , 2004. Further processes aim at separating the organic wet fraction from the dry solid recovery waste, and to treat it mainly by composting, anaerobic digestion, or stabilisation.…”

“…The age of the waste, environmental conditions such as humidity and temperature, and some processes, such as composting, encourage the growth of micro-organisms in the biodegradable waste fraction and associated products. These factors encourage the conditions in which workers, households and neighbouring communities are potentially exposed to airborne biological agents, i.e., bioaerosols (Pankhurst et al, 2011a;Pearson et al, 2015;Schlosser et al, 2015;Wouters et al, 2000).…”