Workers’ exposure to dust, endotoxin and β-(1–3) glucan at four large-scale composting facilities
Author
Jones, Ken
Sykes, Peter
Morris, Keith
Allen, J.A.
Wildsmith, John D.
Jones, Ken
Date
2011Type
Article
Publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
0956-053X
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Objectives: To characterise compost workers’ exposure to dust, endotoxin and β-(1–3) glucan during various
operational practices and investigate whether dust concentrations are a useful indicator of endotoxin
exposure in compost workers.
Methods: This study assessed inhalable dust fractions, bacterial endotoxin and β-(1–3) glucan in 117 personal
samples and 88 ambient samples from four large-scale composting facilities.
Results: Employees’ exposures to inhalable dust, endotoxin and β-(1–3) glucan exhibited a large range.
Inhalable dust was found to be generally low (GM 0.99 mg/m3, GSD 2.99 mg/m3). Analysis of the biological
component of the dust showed that employees’ exposures to endotoxin were elevated (GM 35.10 EU/
m3, GSD 9.97 EU/m3). Employees’ exposure to β-(1–3) glucan was low (GM 0.98 ng/m3, GSD 13.39 ng/
m3). Dust levels were elevated during manual sorting and screening of waste and high levels of endotoxin
and β-(1–3) glucan were observed during all practices involving the movement of waste. A significant
correlation was observed between the personal dust levels and personal endotoxin concentrations
(r = 0.783, p < 0.05) and that personal inhalable dust concentration may be a valuable predictor for personal
endotoxin concentration in the sites studied.
Conclusions: Workers at composting sites are exposed to high levels of bacterial endotoxin consistent
with adverse respiratory outcomes even though in most cases, their personal dust exposure is below
the suggested regulatory levels. Dose–response data for the biological components present in the dust
encountered at composting sites are not well established at this time and site operators should adopt precautionary
measures when assessing and managing these potential risks. [2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved]
Journal/conference proceeding
Waste Management
Citation
Sykes, P., Morris, R.H.K., Allen, J.A., Wildsmith, J.D. and Jones, K.P. (2011) 'Workers’ exposure to dust, endotoxin and β-(1–3) glucan at four large-scale composting facilities', Waste Management, 31(3), pp.423-430.
Description
This article was published in Waste Management in
March 2011, available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2010.10.016
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