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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Previous studies anticipated that microorganisms and their metabolites in waste will increase as a consequence of a decreased collection frequency and due to differences in what kind of waste is bagged before collection leading to increased exposure of workers handling the waste. This study's aim was to investigate the microbial contamination present in the waste collection trucks (WCT) and in the support facilities (waste collection station - WCS). It applied a multi-approach protocol using active (air sampling by impingement and impaction) and passive (surface swabs, electrostatic dust cloths, and settled dust) sampling methods. The screening of azole resistance, the investigation of mycotoxins, and the assessment of the elicited biological responses in vitro were also carried out aiming to recognize the possible health effects of waste collection drivers. SARS-CoV-2 detection was also performed. In WCS only air samples had contamination in all the four sampling sites (canteen, operational removal core, operational removal center, and administrative service). Among all the analyzed matrices from the WCT, a higher percentage of total bacterial counts and Gram-was detected in swabs (66.93%; 99.36%). In WCS the most common species were Penicillium sp. (43.98%) and Cladosporium sp. (24.68%), while on WCT Aspergillus sp. (4.18%) was also one of the most found. In the azole resistance screening, Aspergillus genera were not observed in the azole-supplemented media. SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in any of the environmental samples collected, but Aspergillus section Fumigati was detected in 5 samples. Mycotoxins were not detected in EDC from WCS, while in WCT they were detected in filters (N = 1) and in settled dust samples (N = 16). In conclusion, our study reveals that a comprehensive sampling approach using active and passive sampling (e.g. settled dust sampling for a representative mycotoxin evaluation) and combined analytic methods (i.e., culture-based and molecular) is an important asset in microbial exposure assessments. Concerning the waste collection exposure scenario, the results of this study unveiled a complex exposure, particularly to fungi and their metabolites. Aspergillus section Fumigati highlights the significance of targeting this section in the waste management industry as an indicator of occupational health risk.
Description
Project EXPOGreen FBR38.
Project “Occupational exposure of ambulance drivers to bioburden” (IPL/2020/BIO-AmbuDrivers_ESTeSL).
FCT_UIDB/05608/2020. FCT_UIDP/05608/2020.
Project “Occupational exposure of ambulance drivers to bioburden” (IPL/2020/BIO-AmbuDrivers_ESTeSL).
FCT_UIDB/05608/2020. FCT_UIDP/05608/2020.
Keywords
Occupational health Occupational exposure Waste collection trucks Multi-approach for sampling and analyses Aspergillus Azole resistance Mycotoxins Portugal EXPOGreen FBR38 IPL/2020/BIO-AmbuDrivers_ESTeSL FCT_UIDB/05608/2020 FCT_UIDP/05608/2020.
Citation
Viegas C, Pena P, Dias M, Gomes B, Cervantes R, Carolino E, Caetano LA, Viegas S, et al. Microbial contamination in waste collection: unveiling this Portuguese occupational exposure scenario. J Environ Manag. 2022;314:115086.