Seasonal variation in bioaerosol exposure during biowaste collection and measurements of leaked percolate

Abstract

The seasonal variation in waste collectors' exposure to microorganisms, endotoxin and dust was measured with personal sampling equipment. The measurement was carried out in three different combinations of storage and collection systems for biowaste: container/compactor truck (C/C), paper sack/compactor truck (P/C) and paper sack/platform truck (P/P). The maximum personal exposure was found to occur during the summer at the following median levels: total microorganisms 9.2 × 105 cells m-3, culturable fungi (moulds) 7.8 × 104 cfu m-3, Aspergillus fumigatus 2.9 × 10-3 cfu m-3 , mesophilic actinomycetes 9.0 × 102 cfu m-3, bacteria 1.0 × 104 cfu m-3, endotoxin 16 EU m -3 (1.0 ng m-3 ) and dust 0.33 mg m-3. A seasonal variation was observed for microorganisms, moulds, A. fumigatus, mesophilic actinomycetes and endotoxin (P < 0.05). The highest exposure to moulds, A. fumigatus and endotoxin occurred in the C/C system (P < 0.05) during the summer. Percolate from the biowaste was collected from the bottom of the c...