[Occupational exposure to airborne fungi and bacteria in a household recycled container sorting plant ]. / Exposición laboral a hongos y bacterias ambientales en una planta de selección de residuos de envases.

Several studies have showed an association between the work in waste treatment plants and occupational health problems such as irritation of skin, eyes and mucous membranes, pulmonary diseases, gastrointestinal problems and symptoms of organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS). These symptoms have been related to bioaerosol exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the occupational exposure to biological agents in a plant sorting source-separated packages (plastics materials, ferric and non-ferric metals) household waste. Airborne samples were collected with M Air T Millipore sampler. The concentration of total fungi and bacteria and gram-negative bacteria were determined and the most abundant genera were identified. The results shown that the predominant airborne microorganisms were fungi, with counts greater than 12,000 cfu/m(3) and gram-negative bacteria, with a environmental concentration between 1,395 and 5,280 cfu/m(3). In both cases, these concentrations were higher than levels obtained outside of the sorting plant. Among the fungi, the predominant genera were Penicillium and Cladosporium, whereas the predominant genera of gram-negative bacteria were Escherichia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella and Serratia. The present study shows that the workers at sorting source-separated packages (plastics materials, ferric and non-ferric metals) domestic waste plant may be exposed to airborne biological agents, especially fungi and gram-negative bacteria.

Exposición laboral a hongos y bacterias ambientales en una planta de selección de residuos de envases / Occupational exposure to airborne fungi and bacteria in a sorting source-separated packages household waste plant

Distintos estudios han mostrado una asociación entre la actividad laboral enplantas de tratamiento de residuos y la aparición de distintos síntomas en lostrabajadores, como irritación de piel, ojos y membranas mucosas, trastornosgastrointestinales y respiratorios, y el síndrome tóxico por polvo orgánico.Estos síntomas se han asociado con la exposición a bioaerosoles.El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar la exposición laboral a agentesbiológicos en una planta de selección de envases procedentes exclusivamentede la recogida selectiva de residuos sólidos urbanos.Las muestras ambientales se obtuvieron por el método de impactación enplaca con el equipo M Air T de Millipore. Se determinó la concentración dehongos totales, bacterias totales y bacterias gramnegativas y, en cada caso,se identificaron los géneros fúngicos y bacterianos obtenidos.Los microorganismos mayoritarios han sido los hongos, con recuentossuperiores a 12.000 ufc/m3, y las bacterias gramnegativas, que se handeterminado en concentraciones ambientales entre 1.395 y 5.280 ufc/m3.En ambos casos, estas concentraciones han sido muy superiores a lashalladas en la muestra de referencia obtenida en el exterior de la planta.Entre los hongos, los géneros mayoritarios han sido Penicillium yCladosporium, mientras que entre las bacterias gramnegativas se identificaronlos géneros Escherichia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella y Serratia.En conclusión, los trabajadores de una planta de selección de envasesprocedentes de la recogida selectiva de residuos sólidos urbanos puedenestar expuestos a agentes biológicos, especialmente en forma de hongos ybacterias gramnegativas(AU)

Several studies have showed an association between the work in wastetreatment plants and occupational health problems such as irritation of skin,eyes and mucous membranes, pulmonary diseases, gastrointestinal problemsand symptoms of organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS). These symptoms havebeen related to bioaerosol exposure.The aim of this study was to investigate the occupational exposure tobiological agents in a plant sorting source-separated packages (plasticsmaterials, ferric and non-ferric metals) household waste.Airborne samples were colleted with M Air T Millipore sampler.The concentration of total fungi and bacteria and gram-negative bacteria weredetermined and the most abundant genera were identified.The results shown that the predominant airborne microorganisms were fungi,with counts greater than 12,000 cfu/m3 and gram-negative bacteria, with aenvironmental concentration between 1,395 and 5,280 cfu/m3. In both cases,these concentrations were higher than levels obtained outside of the sortingplant.Among the fungi, the predominant genera were Penicillium and Cladosporium,whereas the predominant genera of gram-negative bacteria were Escherichia,Enterobacter, Klebsiella and Serratia.The present study shows that the workers at sorting source-separatedpackages (plastics materials, ferric and non-ferric metals) domestic wasteplant may be exposed to airborne biological agents, especially fungi andgram-negative bacteria(AU)