Cytotoxicity of filtering respiratory protective devices from the waste sorting industry: A comparative study between interior layer and exhalation valve

Viegas, Carla; Twarużek, Magdalena; Dias, Marta; Almeida, Beatriz; Carolino, Elisabete; Soszczyńska, Ewelina; Viegas, Susana; Caetano, Liliana Aranha

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2021.106603

Cited by 12 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 29 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The characterization of the toxigenic potential of microorganisms present in the waste sorting workplaces is, however, a major challenge. This assessment includes air sampling and passive sampling, and might include individual protection devices [11,24].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, in vitro toxicology should always be combined with an accurate assessment of exposure to microbial and chemical contamination. This should be the followed approach to achieve useful information on the potential health effects of co-exposure to multiple stressors [24].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to fill the data gaps of concern for regulatory authorities (risk assessors and/or risk managers), toxicological studies need to be developed for the assessment (in vitro) of mixtures relevant to occupational health. Due to the lack of information on all the risk factors that are present in waste sorting plants [2][3][4][5], that are deeply dependent on the kind of waste that is being sorted, and the difficulty to accurately assess the exposure to all the pollutants, it is critical to perform the overall cytotoxicity from the sample extracts as a cytotoxicity pre-screening, as was the case of the previous studies performed to FRPD and MPG [11,24]. After identifying the potential indicators of each kind of pollutants-Aspergillus section Fumigati for mycological contamination-the assessment of their own contribution to the overall cytotoxicity might help to unveil potential health risks of exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Briefly, over 180 protection devices used by waste workers (namely, FRPD (N = 120) and MPG (N = 67)) were randomly collected on a weekday during the winter season (between January and February 2019) in four workstations (Table S1-Supplementary Material) at one waste sorting industry located in Lisbon, Portugal. Samples were kept refrigerated and processed in aseptic conditions, as previously reported [10,11], and characterized regarding their microbial contamination and cytotoxic effect [10,11,24].…”

Section: Protection Devices' Sampling and Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Cytotoxicity of Aspergillus Section Fumigati Isolates Recovered from Protection Devices Used on Waste Sorting Industry

Viegas

Twarużek

Dias

et al. 2022

Toxins

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Safe working conditions must be guaranteed during waste sorting, which is crucial to maximizing recycling and reuse, in order to minimize workers’ exposure to chemical and biological hazards. This study determines the contribution of Aspergillus section Fumigati to the overall cytotoxicity of filtering respiratory protection devices (FRPD) and mechanic protection gloves (MPG) collected in 2019 from different workstations in one waste sorting industry in Portugal. The cytotoxicity of 133 Aspergillus section Fumigati isolates was determined as IC50 in human A549 epithelial lung cells and swine kidney cells, using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Aspergillus section Fumigati cytotoxicity results were compared with previous total cytotoxicity data from FRPD and MPG samples. A significant correlation was detected between the total cytotoxicity of samples and cytotoxicity of Aspergillus section Fumigati isolates in A549 cells (rS = −0.339, p = 0.030). The cytotoxicity of Aspergillus section Fumigati isolates explained 10.7% of the total cytotoxicity of the sample. On the basis of the comparison of cytotoxicity levels, it was possible to determine the contribution of Aspergillus section Fumigati isolates for the total cytotoxicity of protection devices used in the waste sorting industry. The results support in vitro toxicology as a relevant approach in risk assessments regarding cytotoxicity in passive sampling, and thus, useful in determining the contribution of relevant microbial contaminants to overall cytotoxicity. This approach can provide valuable answers in dose/response studies, and support innovations in risk characterization and their translation into occupational policies.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Protection Devices' Sampling and Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Cytotoxicity of Aspergillus Section Fumigati Isolates Recovered from Protection Devices Used on Waste Sorting Industry

Viegas

Twarużek

Dias

et al. 2022

Toxins

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…or Stachybotrys sp. genera, mostly recovered from dwellings with infiltrations and humid environments [38][39][40][41][42], from occupational settings [43,44], or even from protection devices used in high fungal load settings such as the waste sorting industry [45][46][47]. One study evaluating the concentration of airborne fungi in rooms of asthma patients concluded that the home environment was a potential source of exposure to molds and a risk factor for asthma patients [33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cytotoxicity of Aspergillus Section Fumigati Isolated from Health Care Environments

Viegas

Twarużek

Almeida

et al. 2021

JoF

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study analyzed 57 Aspergillus section Fumigati (AF) isolates collected by active and passive sampling (N = 450) in several health care facilities and from biological sampling of health care workers (N = 25) and controls (N = 22) in Portugal. All isolates were cultured in different media and screened for azole resistance. Cytotoxicity was assessed for 40 isolates in lung epithelial cells and kidney cells using the MTT assay. Aspergillus section Fumigati was prevalent in the health care facilities and in nasal swabs from health care workers and controls. All AF isolates reduced cell viability and presented medium to high cytotoxicity, with cytotoxicity being significantly higher in A549 lung epithelial cells. The cytotoxicity of isolates from air and nasal swab samples suggested the inhalation route as a risk factor. Notably, 42% of AF isolates exhibited a pattern of reduced susceptibility to some of the most used antifungals available for the treatment of patients infected with these fungi. In sum, the epidemiology and clinical relevance of Aspergillus section Fumigati should continue to be addressed. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying Aspergillus-mediated cytotoxicity is necessary.

show abstract

Microbial Occupational Exposure in e-waste Recycling: Biological Hazards, Their Sources, and Potential Toxic Effects

Viegas,

Gomes,

Dias

et al. 2024

Int J Environ Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

E-waste management is a major environmental concern that also poses serious risks to occupational health. While e-waste workers are exposed to a variety of chemicals, little is known about occupational exposure to microbiological agents. This study aims to fill that gap. For that purpose, two e-waste facilities were assessed: one battery-recycling facility (BRF), and another facility (SRE) dedicated to e-waste sorting and storage before sending it for different processing. Filtering respiratory protection devices (FRPD, 24 samples) and settled dust (13 samples) were collected using standardized sampling approaches, and analyzed by culture-based, chemical and molecular methods. Workers also filled in a questionnaire regarding work activities and the use of FRPD. Microbial contamination, fungal diversity, azole resistance, and prevalence of Aspergillus sections Fumigati and Flavi (as surrogates of harmful fungal contamination) and mycotoxins were determined. To estimate potential health effects related to exposure, the FRPD cytotoxicity was determined in human A549 lung and HepG2 hepatic cells. Microbial contaminants with pathogenicity and toxigenic potential were observed in FRPD and settled dust. Aspergillus section Fumigati was widespread. The observed presence of Aspergillus section Flavi relates to the risk of exposure to aflatoxin B1 (a potent hepatocarcinogen). Four different mycotoxins were detected in 8% FRPD and 15% dust samples, including fumonisin B1 and sterigmatocystin (below the limit of quantification). A low to moderate cytotoxic effect of sampled FRPD was observed, with human lung alveolar cells more sensitive than hepatic cells. No relevant azole resistance was observed, nor correlations between fungal reduced azole-susceptibility and fungal growth at 37 °C or cytotoxicity. In summary, it can be concluded that this approach using FRPD and settled dust presents a promising potential for screening occupational exposure to microbiological contaminants in e-waste management. More studies in this occupational context should be prioritized to identify critical biological hazards and to support the implementation of appropriate health risk mitigation strategies.

show abstract

Cytotoxicity of filtering respiratory protective devices from the waste sorting industry: A comparative study between interior layer and exhalation valve

Cited by 12 publications

References 29 publications

Cytotoxicity of Aspergillus Section Fumigati Isolates Recovered from Protection Devices Used on Waste Sorting Industry

Cytotoxicity of Aspergillus Section Fumigati Isolates Recovered from Protection Devices Used on Waste Sorting Industry

Cytotoxicity of Aspergillus Section Fumigati Isolated from Health Care Environments

Microbial Occupational Exposure in e-waste Recycling: Biological Hazards, Their Sources, and Potential Toxic Effects

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About