Risk Assessment in a Materials Recycling Facility: Perspectives for Reducing Operational Issues

Cioca, Lucian‐Ionel; Ferronato, Navarro; Viotti, Paolo; Magaril, Elena; Ragazzi, Marco; Torretta, Vincenzo; Rada, Elena Cristina

doi:10.3390/resources7040085

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The PM and bioaerosols emissions at MRFs may vary due to design, operational conditions, types of materials processed, and meteorological variables 45 – 47 , singular for each facility studied. Thus, it is important to evaluate the presence of these airborne pollutants in this occupational setting to provide possibilities of controlling its air pollution through specific intervention plans based on demand.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Wikuats

Duarte

Prates

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study aims to assess the concentrations of size-fractioned particle mass (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM4.0, PM10) and number (PNC0.3, PNC0.5, PNC1.0, PNC2.5), bacteria, and fungi in a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Brazil. The measurements were performed inside the waste processing shed (P1) and in the outdoor environment (P2) during working days in winter and spring of 2017, and summer of 2019. A total of 2,400 min of PM, 1,440 min of PNC, and 216 samples of bioaerosols were collected in the morning and afternoon. P1 has the strongest air contamination with mean values of 475.5 ± 563.7 µg m−3 for PM10, 58.6 ± 36.0 cm−3 for PNC0.3, 1,088.8 ± 825.2 colony-forming units per cubic meter (CFU m−3) for bacteria, and 2,738.3 ± 1,381.3 CFU m−3 for fungi. The indoor/outdoor ratios indicated the large influence of indoor sources due to the activities performed inside P1 that promote the generation and resuspension of pollutants. Gram-positive bacteria dominated with 58.6% of indoor samples. Overall, our results show a critical indoor air quality situation in a Brazilian MRF, which may cause several health risks for waste pickers. Finally, we call attention to the lack of occupational exposure limits for bioaerosols in industrial workplaces and mainly in MRFs.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Wikuats

Duarte

Prates

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We also exclude the open burning of plastic waste, for which a separate review has been presented by Velis and Cook (2020). In addition, there were only two relevant papers revealed (Černá et al, 2017;Cioca et al, 2018) that addressed the sorting phase, and in each case, fell outside the scope of the remaining works; these were also not elaborated as, we suggest, that they belong in another in-depth study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic waste reprocessing for circular economy: A systematic review of risks to occupational and public health from legacy substances and extrusion

Cook¹,

Velis²,

Derks³

2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Increasing aspirations to develop a circular economy for waste plastics will result in an expansion of the global plastics reprocessing sector over the coming decades. Here we focus on two critical challenges within the value chain that as a result of such increased circularity may exacerbate existing issues for occupational and public health (1): Legacy contamination in secondary plastics, addressing the risk of materials and substances being inherited from the previous use and carried through into new products when the material enters its subsequent use phase; and challenge (2): Extrusion of secondary plastics in reprocessing, an end process of conventional mechanical recycling of plastics, involving heating secondary plastics under pressure until they melt and can be formed into new products. Via a systematic review (PRISMA guidelines, adapted), we considered over 4,000 sources of information, refined and consolidated into 20 relevant sources, which were critically assessed. We also derive prevalent risk scenarios of hazard-pathway-receptor combinations, subsequently being ranked. Our critical analysis highlights that despite stringent regulation, industrial diligence and enforcement, occasionally small amounts of potentially hazardous substances are able to pass through these safeguards and re-enter in the new product cycle. Although many are present at concentrations unlikely to pose a serious and imminent threat, their existence may be an indication of a wider or possibly increasing challenge of pollution dispersion, as the plastics reprocessing sector proliferates. But, in the Global South context, such controls may not be in place. Several studies showed emission control by passive ventilation, through open doors and windows followed by dilution and dispersion in the atmosphere, resulting in increased occupational exposure. It is recommended that further investigations are undertaken to establish the scale and magnitude of such phenomena, especially given the limited evidence base, with results informing improved future risk management protocols of a circular economy for plastics.

show abstract

“…Another option is to minimize waste by creating so-called off-the-grid power systems ( Figure 2) that could consist of photovoltaic converters, a small-scale wood-chip-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant, a diesel power plant, a pellet-burning boiler house, and other equipment [13,14]. The circular economy, however, necessitates the adoption of near-zero-waste production practices not only at a company level, but within a single eco-system that includes the energy sector, manufacturing, the utilities sector, and end consumers [15,16]. An example of the second trajectory is a neighborhood of Stockholm called Hammarby Sjöstad that was designed and constructed entirely in accordance with the canons of the closed-loop economy [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Methane gas from wastewater is processed into cooking and vehicular fuel, while its residual sludge reverts to fertilize the forest. The circular economy, however, necessitates the adoption of near-zero-waste production practices not only at a company level, but within a single eco-system that includes the energy sector, manufacturing, the utilities sector, and end consumers [15,16]. An example of the second trajectory is a neighborhood of Stockholm called Hammarby Sjöstad that was designed and constructed entirely in accordance with the canons of the closed-loop economy [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rational Behavior of an Enterprise in the Energy Market in a Circular Economy

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In order to ensure their market sustainability, it is essential for energy-intensive industrial companies to address the issues of efficient energy use. Companies that are prepared to embrace tariff hikes, structural changes in fuel and energy markets, and a shortage of energy resources have a wider range of options to respond to the new challenges posed by the external environment and to reduce their risks. This task becomes particularly relevant in the context of the development of the circular economy that is aimed at resource optimization, energy conservation, zero-waste manufacturing, and business models that are based on maximum operational efficiency. This study aims to develop a methodology for rational behavior of the energy consumer in the context of the circular economy. The concept of “rational behavior” is defined by the authors as the intention to make the maximum use of the advantages and potential of energy markets in order to reduce the cost of energy supply, increase the level of electrification in industrial production, and use the capabilities of their own energy business. The article describes the main principles of rational behavior that serve as the foundation for effective implementation of various strategies (that of the seller, buyer, or both) in a company. A link is shown between rational behavior and energy market potential management in a company as a mix of technological, economic, and organizational activities performed by the energy consumer in a competitive market and effective market risk management. Forms of off-grid power supply and conditions for their application in manufacturing, for example, mini-combined heat and power (CHP) plants and quadgeneration plants at large metallurgical facilities were analyzed.

show abstract

Risk Assessment in a Materials Recycling Facility: Perspectives for Reducing Operational Issues

Cited by 16 publications

References 20 publications

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

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

Plastic waste reprocessing for circular economy: A systematic review of risks to occupational and public health from legacy substances and extrusion

Rational Behavior of an Enterprise in the Energy Market in a Circular Economy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About