Characteristics of Particulate Matter Generated while Handling Municipal Household Waste

Abstract

mental conditions such as traffic levels and the type of waste transport vehicle. (J Occup Health 2013; 55: 503-510) Key words: Household waste, House waste-handling work, Size-selective particulate matter Workers handling municipal wastes can be exposed to bioaerosols including bacteria, endotoxins, mold spores, glucan, microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) and infectious materials 1) , as well as vehicle exhaust fumes, noise, extreme temperatures and ultraviolet radiation 2,3) . Bioaerosol exposure is associated with a high risk of respiratory health problems for waste handlers 4−10) . Few studies have assessed particulate matter (PM) levels generated during municipal waste-handling work. In addition, little is known about the environmental and occupational factors that may affect levels of PM with various size characteristics. The PM levels in this study were classified by particle size fraction into the following categories: inhalable particulate matter (IPM), respirable particulate matter (RPM), PM 10 (aerodynamic diameter, Dp≤10 µ m), PM 2.5 (aerodynamic diameter, Dp≤2.5 µ m) and PM 1 (aerodynamic diameter, Dp≤1 µ m), thus providing an indication of either the health effect or air-quality value. To our knowledge, no study has assessed PM levels including the fine PM levels, such as PM 2.5 and PM 1 , generated during municipal waste-handling work.The aims of this study were to assess PM levels and fractions characterized by size, to examine the relationship between PM levels and to assess the effect of the type of waste-handling activity on levels of coarse and fine PM. This study was conducted to assess the size characteristics of particulate matter (PM) generated during waste collection and sorting, and to assess the effect of the type of waste-handling activity on levels of coarse and fine PM. Methods: A portable aerosol spectrometer calibrated to 1.2 l/min was used to monitor PM generated during four types of wastehandling activities. The types of PM measured included inhalable particulate matter (IPM), PM 10 , respirable particulate matter (RPM), PM 2.5 and PM 1 . Twenty-eight data sets with 3,071 subsets recorded every 6 sec were categorized according to occupational and environmental classifications, including type of waste-handling activity. An ANOVA was used to compare PM levels characterized by size. Significant variables with p-values <0.25 were included in a multiple regression model for predicting levels of each PM. Results: The average levels of PM 10 and PM 2.5 greatly exceeded the air-quality levels enforced by the Korean Ministry of the Environment. The highest PM 2.5 fine-particle levels monitored were during waste-transfer work, while the highest IPM and PM 10 coarse-particle levels monitored were during waste-sorting work. The type of waste-collection activity was the only factor that significantly affected both PM 2.5 and IPM, accounting for 36% (p=0.0034) and 40% (p=0.0049), respectively, of the observed variations. None of the factors affected PM 10 or RPM levels. Conclus...

Assessment of airborne particles and bioaerosols concentrations in a waste recycling environment in Brazil

“…Regarding the season examined, our results diverge from those obtained by Lavoie and Guertin 28 , who found higher values in summer compared to winter, while Park et al 68 presented higher concentrations in fall when comparing to summer. In general, considering PM 2.5 and PM 10 in P1, the highest mean concentrations were registered in spring for the present study (Table 1), probably due to the more intense generation of PM from indoor sources and the infiltration of outdoor particles, as it was the season with the highest mean PM values in P2 and the lowest mean values of relative humidity (Supplementary Tables S2, S3), which probably caused a decrease in the pollutants removal via wet deposition.…”

“…The PM 1.0 , PM 2.5 , PM 4.0 , and PM 10 concentrations in this study are in the same range as the results found in other articles (Table 1). Despite the differences existing among the MRFs the highest values were observed predominantly during the sorting process 28,29,36,46,68 , and for people who directly handle the waste when evaluated the activity performed 29 , as well as noted in this research. Also, the absence of mechanical ventilation at the waste-sorting plant (WSP) in the study of Viegas et al 69 contributed to the mass concentration of PM 2.5 and PM 10 .…”

Occupational Exposure to Diesel Particulate Matter in Municipal Household Waste Workers

“…These levels were 4.4-fold higher than the ambient background level and higher than the Korean Ministry of the Environment ambient air quality standard for PM 2.5 (24-h average = 50 μg/m 3 , annual average = 25 μg/m 3 ) [ 46 ]. Park et al categorized MHW collection activities in Korea and reported PM 2.5 exposure levels during collection (73.29 μg/m 3 ), transfer (223.39 μg/m 3 ), sorting (61.57 μg/m 3 ) and transport (73.90) [ 16 ]. Since “transfer” and “sorting” activities are part of recyclable material collection, they were not included in the present study.…”

“…Park et al assessed the size characteristics of particulate matter and the effects of the type of waste-handling activity on the levels of PM during waste collection and sorting. However, the PM samples were not based on the personal exposures during a shift, and the measurements were not specific for DPM [ 16 ].…”

Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate Matter (PM) in Ambient Air and the Number of New Cases of Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland

“…In Poland, more than 88% of the energy produced comes from coal energy plants, of which nearly 53% use black coal and 35% brown coal. Atmospheric air can also be polluted by the aviation and automotive industry, which involves burning liquid fuel, the use of wearing parts in vehicles, and the rubbing of tires on asphalt surfaces [10][11][12]. e European Environment Agency (EEA) report on air quality in Europe in 2015 reveals that Greece, Poland, and Bulgaria are the countries where the daily PM 10 concentration standards are exceeded [13], (Figure 1).…”