Microbial Air Quality in Offices at Municipal Landfills

Lis, Danuta O.; Ulfig, Krzysztof; Wlazło, Agnieszka; Pastuszka, Józef S.

doi:10.1080/15459620490275489

Cited by 43 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…S4, S5, S6, S13, S14 and S17). Their occurrence confirmed earlier observations by Lis et al (2004) perceived at active landfill areas in Upper Silesia and the Sandomierz Basin. Considering the fungal community composition within respective sites, a distinct predomination of species unique to the exploitation or standstill period was found (Table 1).…”

Section: Qualitative Analysis Of Fungal Aerosolsupporting

confidence: 91%

Fungal air contamination in distinct sites within a municipal landfill area

Frączek

Kozdrój

Górny

et al. 2017

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Municipal wastes collected in landfills are a significant source of air contamination and frequently characterize by elevated concentrations of different fungi. Posing a serious health threat to landfill workers and local residents, the fungal aerosol has to be monitored with respect to its quantity and quality. In this study, concentrations of airborne fungi, their particle size distribution, species composition and the presence of cytotoxic strains of Aspergillus fumigatus were assessed in different sites within the landfill area. The quantitative and qualitative changes in the fungal aerosol were determined with respect to a season and landfill activity level (i.e. exploitation or standstill periods). Within the landfill area, particular sites were grouped with regard to airborne fungi concentrations and similarities in species composition. The qualitative analysis indicated that 43 species were shared during both sampling times, and only nine species were characteristic for the standstill period. Among fungal isolates, 21 strains of A. fumigatus revealed cytotoxic activity expressed at different levels, depending on the fungal extract concentrations used in the MTT assay. The results suggested that exposure (especially in summer) to small airborne particles, containing distinct species, may occur not only in the active sector but also in close vicinity to the landfill. Hence, microbial monitoring of the landfill and surrounding area should be carried out taking into account both quantitative aspect supplemented by size distribution analysis and qualitative features, especially of those strains possessing cytotoxic activity.

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Section: Qualitative Analysis Of Fungal Aerosolsupporting

confidence: 91%

Fungal air contamination in distinct sites within a municipal landfill area

Frączek

Kozdrój

Górny

et al. 2017

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…The results of the present study indicate that the concentrations of bacteria and molds in the air on the premises of MSWMP differed significantly depending on the season, with considerably higher values noted in summer than in autumn and winter; the pattern is also described by other authors [5,7]. This seasonal decrease may result from conditions considered highly unfavorable for cell division, the formation of dust, and the spread of microorganisms such as low temperature, ground freezing, and snow cover.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…Pathogens and allergens, transmitted in the air through dust or liquid droplets, invade the body through the skin and mucous membranes or are introduced by a bite of hematophagous insects. At landfills, concentrations of airborne bacteria and molds can be hundreds to thousands times higher than in homes and public buildings [3][4][5]. Employees of municipal landfill sites with the collection and disposal of municipal waste (i.e., waste dumping, sorting, and composting) are classified as the high-risk group when exposure to biological agents at work is considered [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies indicated that workers of this industry have an excess risk of workrelated health problems such as musculoskeletal problems, pulmonary diseases, organic dust toxic syndrome symptoms (caught, chesttightness, dyspnoea, and influenza-like symptoms), gastrointestinal problems and irritation of the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. However, data on indoor bioaerosols and health risks to office workers employed at municipal waste landfills is insufficient [5]. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of a municipal waste landfill site on microbiological air quality both in indoor spaces located at the landfill area (weigh station, social room, sorting station) and outside the buildings (at the operating landfill cell and at the technological square).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exposure of Workers of Municipal Landfill Site to Bacterial and Fungal Aerosol

Kalwasińska

Burkowska

Brzezinska

2014

CLEAN Soil Air Water

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The present research was aimed at assessing the quality of air in work environment of the municipal landfill site in Toru n. Air samples were collected in the outdoor space (operating landfill cell, technological square), and in indoor space (sorting station, weighing station, social room) using the impaction method. The microbiological air testing included determining the number of airborne mesophilic bacteria and molds. Bacterial strains were identified with appropriate API tests; molds were identified according to their macro and micro characteristics. In outdoor air, the highest average concentration of mesophilic bacteria were recorded at the operating landfill cell (1361 colony forming unit (CFU)/m 3 ). The highest average concentrations of molds were recorded at the technological square (1179 CFU/m 3 ). In indoor air, the highest average concentration of investigated microorganisms (bacteria: 10 707 CFU/m 3 , molds:12 471 CFU/m 3 ) were recorded in the sorting facility. The concentration of microorganisms in the outdoor air depended on the season (p < 0.05), but did not depend on the sampling site, while in the indoor air depended on the sampling site (p < 0.05) but did not depend on the season. Bioaerosol emitted in municipal facility was the source of bacterial (Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungal species (Aspergillus fumigatus, Madurella grisea, Penicillium manfferei, Scedosporium apiospermium, Cryptococcus neoformans), posing a health risk for humans. However Gram-negative bacteria constituted only a small fraction of the isolated microorganisms. The highest risk of exposure to biological agents was determined in the sorting station. The majority of the outdoor air samples were classified as uncontaminated. The results emphasize the need for regular monitoring of microbiological tests in indoor and outdoor air of municipal landfill sites as well as for control strategies in order to protect workers at landfill.

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“…Apart from temperature and relative humidity air movement is also an important factor as it acts as a mechanism for biological dispersal. Hence, dumping grounds can act as a potential source of several diseases (Lis et al, 2004;Srivastava et al, 2011). The various routes through which human are exposed to bioaerosol are inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact, out of which inhalation is the predominant one.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and Characterization of Size-Segregated Bioaerosols at Different Sites in Delhi

Lal

Ghosh

Srivastava

et al. 2017

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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Ambient levels of culturable bioaerosol were measured at four different sites of Delhi, India in six size ranges (> 7.0 µm, 7.0-4.7 µm, 4.7-3.3 µm, 3.3-2.1 µm, 2.1-1.1 µm, < 1.1 µm). The study also accounted the seasonal variation (monsoon, post monsoon, winter and pre-monsoon) of the air microbes. The sampling was carried out for three different fractions of bioaerosols viz. fungi, gram positive and negative bacteria during August 2010 to April 2011 using a six-stage viable cascade impactor sampler. Unlike gram positive and negative bacteria, the concentration of fungal bioaerosol found in different stages at each site seems to follow a typical pattern in all four season. The typical pattern of concentration depicts that majority of the fungal species found in the diameter range of 3.3-2.1 µm, which coincides with the penetration range in the secondary bronchi of the lungs in the human body. This reveals that majority of the immunotoxic and allergic fungi found at this stage are mostly prone to affect the secondary bronchi in human lungs when inhaled. At all four sites maximum fungal concentration (1740.5-3224.7 CFU m -3 ), gram-positive bacterial concentration (2790.6-9428.3 CFU m -3 ) and gram-negative bacterial concentration (1990.3-7609 CFU m -3 ) were found in post monsoon season. In the majority of the sites, minimum concentrations were found in monsoon period which probably may be due to rain wash during the sampling. For all the three bioaerosol fractions no particular relationship pattern was found to exist between their respective concentrations with temperature and relative humidity (RH). However, higher range of variation was observed at higher concentration levels and lower range of variation at low concentration levels for all the three bioaerosol fractions. Most of the fungal bioaerosol identified such as Penicillium sp., Alternaria sp. and Aspergillus sp. are associated with immunotoxic and allergic diseases.

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Microbial Air Quality in Offices at Municipal Landfills

Cited by 43 publications

References 12 publications

Fungal air contamination in distinct sites within a municipal landfill area

Fungal air contamination in distinct sites within a municipal landfill area

Exposure of Workers of Municipal Landfill Site to Bacterial and Fungal Aerosol

Identification and Characterization of Size-Segregated Bioaerosols at Different Sites in Delhi

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