Dust at Various Workplaces-Microbiological and Toxicological Threats.

Beata Gutarowska,Anna Otlewska,Katarzyna Majchrzycka,Adriana Nowak,Małgorzata Okrasa,Justyna Szulc,Anita Jachowicz

doi:10.3390/ijerph15050877

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relation between the chemical (analysis of elements and pH) and microbiological composition (culture and metagenomics analysis) of the dust at various workplaces (cement plant, composting plant, poultry farm, and cultivated area) and the cytotoxicity effect on the human adenocarcinoma lung epithelial adherent cell line A-549 (MTT assay test). Analysis of the Particulate Matter (PM) fraction showed that the dust concentration in cultivated areas exceeded the OELs. For the remaining workplaces examined, the dust concentration was lower than OELs limits. The number of microorganisms in the dust samples was 3.8 × 102–1.6 × 108 CFU/g bacteria and 1.5 × 102–6.5 × 106 CFU/g fungi. The highest number of microorganisms was noted for dust from cultivated areas (total number of bacteria, actinomycetes, P. fluorescens) and composting plants (xerophilic fungi and staphylococci), while the least number of microorganisms was observed for dust from cement plants. Many types of potentially pathogenic microorganisms have been identified, including bacteria, such as Bacillus, Actinomyces, Corynebacterium, Prevotella, Clostridium, and Rickettsia, and fungi, such as Alternaria, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. The most cytotoxic to the human lung cell line A-549 was dust from cultivated areas (IC50 = 3.8 mg/mL after 72 h). The cytotoxicity of the tested dust samples depends on the PM concentration, the number of microorganisms, including potentially pathogenic genera, and the exposure time.

Highlights

High dust concentrations affect employees in many branches of industry, primarily mining, quarrying, tunnelling, stone masonry, building construction, foundries and other metallurgical processes, glass and ceramics manufacturers; handling of powdered chemicals in various manufacturing practices; agricultural work involving exposure to soil, intensive animal husbandry, dry vegetable products, and food processing, and any process involving weighing, bagging, bag-emptying or the dry transport of powdered or friable materials [1].Dust includes particulate matter (PM), ranging from 0.001 to 100 μm in aerodynamic diameter.which is divided into various fractions: PM10 (
The total airborne dust concentration was higher at workplace No 5, where the dynamic movement of the organic dust was observed during grain transportation to the silo by using a blower
Was noted for the cultivated area, and for the remaining examined workplaces, the dust concentration was lower than the occupational exposure limits (OELs) limits

Summary

Introduction

High dust concentrations affect employees in many branches of industry, primarily mining, quarrying, tunnelling, stone masonry, building construction, foundries and other metallurgical processes, glass and ceramics manufacturers; handling of powdered chemicals in various manufacturing practices; agricultural work involving exposure to soil, intensive animal husbandry, dry vegetable products, and food processing, and any process involving weighing, bagging, bag-emptying or the dry transport of powdered or friable materials [1].Dust includes particulate matter (PM), ranging from 0.001 to 100 μm in aerodynamic diameter.which is divided into various fractions: PM10 (

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Conclusion