Estimating fugitive bioaerosol releases from static compost windrows: Feasibility of a portable wind tunnel approach

Taha, M. P. M.; Pollard, Simon J. T.; Sarkar, Ujjaini

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2005.02.013

Cited by 69 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In our study, the airborne heterotroph concentration was 8-fold higher at DW2 than the upwind site, but it was determined that these were statistically similar concentrations. Research on the land application of biosolids or at composting facilities has shown that bioaerosol concentrations decrease with increasing distance from the source (Brooks et al 2004;Taha et al 2005). Similarly, decreases in bioaerosol concentrations with increasing distance from wastewater treatment plants and land application of wastewater have been demonstrated (Brooks et al 2004;Millner 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of bioaerosols at a concentrated dairy operation

et al. 2010

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Increased bioaerosol loadings in downwind plumes from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) may increase the risk for allergy and infection in humans. In this study, we monitored airborne concentrations of culturable bacteria and fungi at upwind (background) and downwind sites at a 10,000 milking cow dairy over the course of a year. The average bacterial concentrations at the upwind site were 8.4 9 10 3 colony forming units (CFU) m -3and increased to 9.9 9 10 5 CFU m -3 at the downwind edge of the cattle lots, decreasing to 6.3 9 10 4 CFU m -3 200 m farther downwind. At the same sites, the average fungal concentrations were 515, 945, and 1,010 CFU m -3 , respectively. Significant correlations between the ambient weather conditions and airborne fungal and bacterial concentrations were identified. Sequence analysis of PCR-amplified DNA from bacterial clones and fungal isolates revealed genus and species level differences between upwind and downwind sites. Although we could not cultivate gram-negative bacteria, bacterial clones at downwind sites identified as being gram-negative matched with the following genera: Acinetobacter, Bradyrhizobium, Escherichia, Idiomarina, Methylobacterium, Ralstonia, and Novosphingobium. Fungal isolates from downwind matched with the following genera:

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of bioaerosols at a concentrated dairy operation

et al. 2010

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“…Another study found A. fumigatus spore concentrations close to compost piles sometimes exceeded 10 6 cfu m -3 (Clark et al 1983). Elevated levels of A. fumigatus between 57.8 · 10 3 and 111.3 · 10 3 cfu m -3 were observed up to 30 m away from the compost (Taha et al 2005). Syzdek and Haines (1995) found mean daily A. fumigatus concentrations were much higher 30 m from the compost facility (552 spores m -3 ) than at either the local community site (151 spores m -3 ) 540 m downwind of the facility or the control site (44 spores m -3 ) 10,000 m upwind of the composting facility.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

The air spora close to a compost facility in Northeast Oklahoma: Part I—spore trap sampling

Gillum

Levetin

2007

Aerobiologia

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A compost facility in northeast Oklahoma is located relatively close to a residential area and is the focus of complaints about smell and concerns about health effects. Several species of Aspergillus have been known to cause health problems, and at least one of these species is dominant in compost. The atmosphere surrounding the compost facility was monitored for 1 year using Burkard spore traps to determine if there was a significant difference in Penicillium/Aspergillus type spores concentration between a test and control site. Samplers were situated 710 m downwind for the test site and 6,085 m upwind at the control site. There was no significant difference in mean concentration of Penicillium/Aspergillus type spores between the two sites (t = 0.576 P [ 0.05). The mean concentration of total spores was significantly higher at the upwind control site (t = -7.64, P \ 0.01). Wind direction was examined to determine if the compost facility was a possible source for any spikes in concentration. No clear relationship was found between wind direction and mean Penicillium/ Aspergillus concentration at the test site, but peak concentrations of Penicillium/Aspergillus seen at the test site were on days when it was downwind from the composting facility. However, these concentrations were no higher than those seen at the control site on other days. If the compost was releasing large amounts of Penicillium/Aspergillus type spores into the atmosphere they were generally diluted to background levels by the time they reached the test site.

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“…One that has been performed showed that on-site concentrations of fungal spores, viable bacteria and viable fungi were, not unexpectedly, higher compared to those monitored off-site. Furthermore the bioaerosol levels were measured to be higher during composting agitation processes as opposed to when there was no activity and that the concentrations exhibited a tendency to decrease with downwind distance (Taha et al, 2005(Taha et al, , 2006Hryhorczuk et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%