Abstract
Examining the concentration and types of airborne bacteria in waste paper and cardboard sorting plants (WPCSP) is an urgent matter to inform policy makers about the health impacts on exposed workers. Herein, we collected 20 samples at 9 points of a WPCSP every 6 winter days, and found that the most abundant airborne bacteria were positively and negatively correlated to relative humidity and temperature, respectively. The most abundant airborne bacteria (in units of CFU m−3) were: Staphylococcus sp. (72.4) > Micrococcus sp. (52.2) > Bacillus sp. (30.3) > Enterococcus sp. (24.0) > Serratia marcescens (20.1) > E. coli (19.1) > Pseudomonas sp. (16.0) > Nocardia sp. (1.9). The lifetime average daily dose (LADD) for the inhalation and dermal routes for the intake of airborne bacteria ranged from 3.7 × 10−3 ≤ LADDInhalation ≤ 2.07 × 101 CFU (kg d)−1 and 4.75 × 10−6 ≤ LADDDermal ≤ 1.64 × 10−5 CFU (kg d)−1, respectively. Based on a sensitivity analysis (SA), the concentration of airborne bacteria (C) and the exposure duration (ED) had the most effect on the LADDInhalation and LADDDermal for all sampling locations. Although the Hazard Quotient of airborne bacteria was HQ < 1, an acceptable level, the indoor/outdoor ratio (1.5 ≤ I/O ≤ 6.6) of airborne bacteria typically exceeded the threshold value (I/O > 2), indicating worker’s exposure to an infected environment. Therefore, in the absence of sufficient natural ventilation the indoor ambient conditions of the WPCSP studied should be controlled by supplying mechanical ventilation.
Highlights
One of the main sources of airborne bacteria emissions into the ambient air or indoor air is municipal and industrial solid waste (M&ISW) (Wikuats et al, 2020b)
The minima bacteria concentra tion could be bracketed between 20.8 (± 7.5) and 77.8 (± 26.6) CFU m− 3 in the office and background locations. These minima are similar to the airborne bacteria determined in Copenhagen’s ambient air of residential and reference areas that were in the range from 11 to 50 CFU m− 3 (Madsen et al, 2016)
The LADDInhalation in processing units ranges between 3.7 × 10− 3 and 2.07 × 101 CFU− 1, while the LADDDermal was between 4.75 × 10− 6 and 1.64 × 10− 5 CFU− 1
Summary
One of the main sources of airborne bacteria emissions into the ambient air or indoor air is municipal and industrial solid waste (M&ISW) (Wikuats et al, 2020b). As a consequence of the recycling of these main components in waste sorting plants, bacteria can be emitted to air in the form of bioaerosol (Solans et al, 2007). Direct or indirect contact with the created bioaerosols from the solid waste can spread human diseases (Baghani et al, 2020b). Exposure to such bioaerosols may induce intestinal and infectious diseases of exposed persons. There is a fair concern for bioaerosol exposure to the plant workers and to nearby residents to the plants, who can experience health hazards (skin and respiratory issues) (Baghani et al, 2020b; Degois et al, 2017)
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