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Exposure to airborne fungi during sorting of recyclable plastics in waste treatment facilities

100%
Černá K., Wittlingerová Z., Zimová M., Janovský Z.
Medycyna Pracy
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2017
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vol. 68
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issue 1
1-9
EN
Background In working environment of waste treatment facilities, employees are exposed to high concentrations of airborne microorganisms. Fungi constitute an essential part of them. This study aims at evaluating the diurnal variation in concentrations and species composition of the fungal contamination in 2 plastic waste sorting facilities in different seasons. Material and Methods Air samples from the 2 sorting facilities were collected through the membrane filters method on 4 different types of cultivation media. Isolated fungi were classified to genera or species by using a light microscopy. Results Overall, the highest concentrations of airborne fungi were recorded in summer (9.1×10³–9.0×10⁵ colony-forming units (CFU)/m³), while the lowest ones in winter (2.7×10³–2.9×10⁵ CFU/m³). The concentration increased from the beginning of the work shift and reached a plateau after 6–7 h of the sorting. The most frequently isolated airborne fungi were those of the genera Penicillium and Aspergillus. The turnover of fungal species between seasons was relatively high as well as changes in the number of detected species, but potentially toxigenic and allergenic fungi were detected in both facilities during all seasons. Conclusions Generally, high concentrations of airborne fungi were detected in the working environment of plastic waste sorting facilities, which raises the question of health risk taken by the employees. Based on our results, the use of protective equipment by employees is recommended and preventive measures should be introduced into the working environment of waste sorting facilities to reduce health risk for employees. Med Pr 2017;68(1):1–9
2
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Methods of sampling airborne fungi in working environments of waste treatment facilities

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Černá K., Wittlingerová Z., Zimová M., Janovský Z.
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
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2015
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vol. 29
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issue 3
493-502
EN
Objectives The objective of the present study was to evaluate and compare the efficiency of a filter based sampling method and a high volume sampling method for sampling airborne culturable fungi present in waste sorting facilities. Material and Methods Membrane filters method was compared with surface air system method. The selected sampling methods were modified and tested in 2 plastic waste sorting facilities. Results The total number of colony-forming units (CFU)/m³ of airborne fungi was dependent on the type of sampling device, on the time of sampling, which was carried out every hour from the beginning of the work shift, and on the type of cultivation medium (p < 0.001). Detected concentrations of airborne fungi ranged 2×10²–1.7×10⁶ CFU/m³ when using the membrane filters (MF) method, and 3×10²–6.4×10⁴ CFU/m³ when using the surface air system (SAS) method. Conclusions Both methods showed comparable sensitivity to the fluctuations of the concentrations of airborne fungi during the work shifts. The SAS method is adequate for a fast indicative determination of concentration of airborne fungi. The MF method is suitable for thorough assessment of working environment contamination by airborne fungi. Therefore we recommend the MF method for the implementation of a uniform standard methodology of airborne fungi sampling in working environments of waste treatment facilities.
3
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Visible fungi growth and dampness assessed using a questionnaire versus airborne fungi, (1→3)-β-d-glucan and fungal spore concentrations in flats

100%
Sowiak M., Jeżak K., Kozajda A., Sobala W., Szadkowska-Stańczyk I.
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
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2015
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vol. 28
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issue 1
130-146
EN
Introduction: The study aimed at determination of the usefulness of the subjective assessment of selected signs of fungi growth in flats and microclimate parameters to indicate the actual air contamination with culturable fungi, (1→3)-β-D-glucans and fungal spores. Material and methods: This analysis covered 22 flats, the inhabitants of which declared in a questionnaire interview the presence of the developed mycelium on solid surfaces in the flat. Air samples for determination of the culturable fungi, (1→3)-β-D-glucans and (viable and non-viable) fungal spores concentrations indoor and outdoor the flats during the heating period were collected. During bioaerosol sampling microclimate parameters were measured. Predictive models for concentrations of the tested biological agents with regard to various ways to assess fungal contamination of air in a flat (on the basis of a questionnaire or a questionnaire and microclimate measurements) were built. Results: The arithmetic means of temperature, relative humidity, CO₂ concentration and air flow velocity in the flats were respectively: 20.5°C, 53%, 1431.6 ppm and 0 m/s. The geometric mean concentrations of airborne fungi, (1→3)-β-D-glucans and fungal spores in these premises amounted to 2.9×10² cfu/m³, 1.6 ng/m³ and 5.7×10³ spores/m³, respectively. The subjective assessment of fungi growth signs and microclimate characteristics were moderately useful for evaluation of the actual airborne fungi and (1→3)-β-D-glucan concentrations (maximum percent of explained variance (VE) = 61% and 67%, respectively), and less useful in evaluation of the actual fungal spore concentrations (VE < 29%). In the case of fungi, higher usefulness was indicated of the questionnaire evaluation supported by microclimate measurements (VE = 61.2%), as compared to the evaluation only by means of a questionnaire (VE = 46.9%). Conclusions: Subjective evaluation of fungi growth signs in flats, separately or combined with microclimate measurements, appeared to be moderately useful for quantitative evaluation of the actual air contamination with fungi and their derivatives, but more extensive studies are needed to strengthen those findings.
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Occurrence of fungi and cytotoxicity of the species: Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus isolated from the air of hospital wards

100%
Gniadek A., Krzyściak P., Twarużek M., Macura A. B.
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
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2017
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vol. 30
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issue 2
231-239
EN
Objectives The basic care requirement for patients with weakened immune systems is to create the environment where the risk of mycosis is reduced to a minimum. Material and Methods Between 2007 and 2013 air samples were collected from various wards of a number of hospitals in Kraków, Poland, by means of the collision method using MAS-100 Iso MH Microbial Air Sampler (Merck Millipore, Germany). The air mycobiota contained several species of fungi, and almost 1/3 of it was made up of the species of the Aspergillus genus. Sixty-one strains of species other than A. fumigatus were selected for the research purposes, namely: 28 strains of A. ochraceus, 22 strains of A. niger and 11 strains of A. flavus species. Selected fungi underwent a cytotoxicity evaluation with the application of the MTT colorimetric assay (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide). The assay assesses cell viability by means of reducing the yellow tetrazolium salt to insoluble formazan. A semi-quantitative scale for cytotoxicity grading was adopted: low cytotoxic effect (+) with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) for values ranging from 31.251 cm²/ml to 7.813 cm²/ml, medium cytotoxic effect (++) for values ranging from 3.906 cm²/ml to 0.977 cm²/ml and the high one (+++) for values ranging from 0.488 cm²/ml to 0.061 cm²/ml. The absence of cytotoxicity was determined when the IC₅₀ values was at ≥ 50. Results For 48 samples the analyzed fungi displayed the cytotoxic effect with A. ochraceus in 26 out of 28 cases, with 11 strains displaying the high cytotoxic effect. The lowest cytotoxicity was displayed by fungi of A. niger in 13 out of 22 cases, and the major fungi of A. flavus species were toxic (9 out of 11 cases). Conclusions A half of the fungi displayed the low cytotoxic effect. On the basis of the comparison of average cytotoxicity levels it was determined that there were significant differences in the levels of cytotoxicity of the analyzed fungi. However, such statement may not provide grounds for a definite conclusion about the compared species of fungi that display a more cytotoxic effect than others. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(2):231–239
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Szkodliwe czynniki biologiczne w zakładach termicznego unieszkodliwiania odpadów komunalnych

67%
Cyprowski M.
Medycyna Pracy
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2019
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vol. 70
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issue 1
EN
Solid waste storage in specially designated areas – landfills – has been the basic method of municipal solid waste disposal management for many years. However, thermal treatment is the currently preferred method of solid waste disposal. Hygienic assessment of working conditions in municipal waste incineration plants is hindered due to the variability and complexity of pollutants emitted during the combustion process. For many years studies describing this problem have focused mainly on chemical pollution inside the plants as well as emitted into the atmosphere. Available data indicates the presence of organic dust at workplaces in the range 0.1–14 mg/m3. It has been proven that it is a carrier of a wide spectrum of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and both mesophilic and thermophilic actinomycetes as well as adenoviruses and torque teno virus (TTV). In the air, at workplaces, bacterial endotoxins have also been found in concentrations reaching even 50 000 EU/m3, which may significantly affect the occurrence of pro-inflammatory reactions in the lungs as well as toxic pneumonitis. Biological agents should be taken into account in the occupational risk assessment for harmful agents present in this environment, and an in-depth characterization of exposure and health effects resulting from contact with these agents should be continued to an even greater extent than before. Med Pr. 2019;70(1):99–105
PL
Składowanie odpadów komunalnych w specjalnie wyznaczonych do tego miejscach przez wiele lat stanowiło podstawową metodę ich zagospodarowania – obecnie preferowana jest utylizacja termiczna. Ocena warunków pracy w spalarniach odpadów komunalnych jest utrudniona z powodu zmienności i złożoności zanieczyszczeń emitowanych w wyniku spalania. Autorzy prac opisujących ten problem przez wiele lat koncentrowali się przede wszystkim na zanieczyszczeniach chemicznych wewnątrz badanych zakładów oraz zanieczyszczeniach emitowanych do powietrza atmosferycznego. Oszacowano, że stężenie pyłu organicznego na stanowiskach pracy wynosiło 0,1–14 mg/m3. Udowodniono, że pył ten jest nośnikiem wielu różnych drobnoustrojów, w tym bakterii, grzybów oraz promieniowców mezofilnych i termofilnych, a także adenowirusów i wirusa torque teno. W strefie oddychania pracowników na stanowiskach pracy stwierdzono także obecność endotoksyn bakteryjnych w stężeniu nawet 50 000 EU/m3, które mogą istotnie wpływać na występowanie reakcji prozapalnych w płucach oraz toksycznego zapalenia płuc. Czynniki biologiczne powinny być uwzględniane w ocenie ryzyka zawodowego jako czynniki szkodliwe występujące w tym środowisku, a szczegółowe scharakteryzowanie narażenia oraz skutków zdrowotnych wynikających z kontaktu z nimi powinno być kontynuowane w jeszcze szerszym niż dotychczas zakresie. Med. Pr. 2019;70(1):99–105
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