OCCUPATIONAL BIOAEROSOL EXPOSURE DURING COLLECTION OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE

Abstract

There is little data on personal exposure to bioaerosols during collection of household waste and none on differences in exposure from day to day. The purpose of this study was to obtain data on exposure to bioaerosols while waste collectors were collecting mixed household waste. Personal samples of airborne contaminants were obtained over a period of eight working days from three workers during collection of household waste in a city area. Area samples were also collected close to the scoop of the compactor truck (worst case conditions), in the driver's cab, and at an outdoor reference site. Samples were collected on cellulose nitrate filters to quantify dust and endotoxin, and on polycarbonate filters for culture of viable fungi and bacteria and to determine total counts of microorganisms by microscopy. On average, the exposure to total microorganisms during the working day was 5 ◊ 10 5 microorganisms/m 3 of air for the worker mainly loading the waste into the compactor truck, while the worker mainly driving the truck was exposed to 10