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Over 80% of bacterial microorganisms present in the air in waste sorting plants penetrate deep into the human respiratory system and straight to the alveoli, new research shows.
Dr. Ewa Brągoszewska who specialises in air microbiology and human exposure to biological aerosols at the Silesian University of Technology, carried out air quality tests in a waste sorting plant, where she took samples of bacterial aerosol, determined the concentration levels, species composition and performed drug resistance tests of isolated bacterial strains.
She said: “In the research that I conducted with Dr. Izabela Biedroń, we noticed high levels of the smallest fraction of bacterial microorganisms, the respirable fraction of microorganisms with a diameter below 3 micrometres, penetrating deep into the respiratory system, which could cause allergic alveolitis. We showed that it accounted for more than 80 percent.”
She added that in the studied air, the researchers observed a large proportion of faecal bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Alcaligenes faecalis spp. faecalis), which is a potential threat to the health of the employees.
According to EU and national law, the employer is required to carry out and document occupational risk assessment; however, these documents lack information on the threshold values for bioaerosols present in the workplace air.
Dr. Brągoszewska said: “Concentrations determined in our research (up to 3000 cfu/m3) are fortunately lower than those recommended by the Expert Team for Biological Factors of the Interdepartmental Committee for Maximum Permissible Concentration and Intensity of Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment, which for bacteria is 100,000 cfu/m3. However, prolonged inhalation of microorganisms can have negative health effects, especially in the group of people with chronic respiratory diseases.”
Research shows that it is important to ensure adequate ventilation of waste management facilities and, says Brągoszewska, “It is also important to use personal protective equipment (respiratory protection masks, protective footwear, clothing and gloves).”
According to the microbiologist, many companies and enterprises dealing with waste management carry out occupational risk analysis that involves exposure to biological aerosols too rarely or not at all, and employees themselves tend to ignore the problem.
Dr. Brągoszewska said: “Sharing knowledge and raising the awareness of professional groups exposed to harmful biological agents is a significant research problem, and conducting regular monitoring of microbiological air quality at workplaces is extremely important in order to ensure safe and hygienic working conditions.”
PAP - Science in Poland, Agnieszka Kliks-Pudlik
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