Workers' exposure to bioaerosols from three different types of composting facilities.

Composting is a natural dynamic biological process used to valorise putrescible organic matter. The composting process can involve vigorous movements of waste material piles, which release high concentrations of bioaerosols into the surrounding environment. There is a lack of knowledge concerning th...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene Vol. 14; no. 10; pp. 815 - 823
Main Authors: Bonifait, Laetitia, Marchand, Geneviève, Veillette, Marc, M'Bareche, Hamza, Dubuis, Marie-Eve, Pépin, Carole, Cloutier, Yves, Bernard, Yves, Duchaine, Caroline
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Oct2017
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=125724101&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 125724101
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        15459624
        V1L
      jtl: Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene
      issn: 15459624
      maglogo: Y
    pubinfo:
      dt: Oct2017
      vid: 14
      iid: 10
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    artinfo:
      ui:
        125724101
        125724101
        125724101
        10.1080/15459624.2017.1335054
        125724101
      ppf: 815
      ppct: 8
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
      tig:
        atl: Workers' exposure to bioaerosols from three different types of composting facilities.
      aug:
        au:
          Bonifait, Laetitia
          Marchand, Geneviève
          Veillette, Marc
          M'Bareche, Hamza
          Dubuis, Marie-Eve
          Pépin, Carole
          Cloutier, Yves
          Bernard, Yves
          Duchaine, Caroline
        affil: Centre de recherche de l'institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, Canada
      sug:
        subj:
          Aerosols
          Occupational Exposure
          Refuse Disposal
          Occupational Health
          Work Environment
          Human
          Fungi
          Risk Assessment
          Bacteria
      ab: Composting is a natural dynamic biological process used to valorise putrescible organic matter. The composting process can involve vigorous movements of waste material piles, which release high concentrations of bioaerosols into the surrounding environment. There is a lack of knowledge concerning the dispersal of airborne microorganisms emitted by composting plants (CP) as well as the potential occupational exposure of composting workers. The aim of this study was to investigate the workers exposure to bioaerosols during working activities in three different types of composting facilities (domestic, manure, carcass) using two different quantification methods (cultivation and qPCR) for bacteria and moulds concentrations. As expected, even if there are differences between all CP frameworks, independently of the type of the raw compost used, the production of bioaerosols increases significantly during handling activities. Important concentrations of mesophilic moulds and mesophilic bacteria were noted in the working areas with a respective maximal concentration of 2.3 × 105CFU/m3and 1.6 × 105CFU/m3.A. fumigatusand thermophilicActinomyceteswere also detected in all working areas for the 3 CP. This study emphases the risks for workers to being in contact with aerosolized pathogens such asMycobacteriumandLegionellaand more specifically,L. pneumophila.The presence of high concentration of these bacteria in CP suggests a potential occupational health risk. This study may lead to recommendations for the creation of limits for occupational exposure. There is a need for identifying the standards exposure limits to bioaerosols in CP and efficient recommendation for a better protection of workers' health.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N