Work-related health symptoms among compost facility workers: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundIndustrial composting is a relatively new and expanding activity. Several studies indicate that compost workers are at risk to develop health symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of work-related health symptoms among compost workers compared with control subjects.MethodsA questionnaire was distributed among 62 workers (31 exposed and 31 non-exposed workers). Data were analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression analyses.ResultsWorkers exposed to organic dust reported significantly more often respiratory, irritation (e.g., eyes, nose and throat), gastrointestinal, and skin symptoms than the non-exposed group. Moreover, all work-related symptoms were significantly more often reported by exposed than non-exposed workers. After adjustment for smoking status and age, the associations between exposure and respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin symptoms remained statistically significant, in particular if these symptoms were work-related.ConclusionsThis study confirms that workers at compost facilities are at risk to develop occupational health problems, most likely related to organic dust exposure.

Bioaerosols from a Food Waste Composting Plant Affect Human Airway Epithelial Cell Remodeling Genes

“…Compost workers are at risk of suffering respiratory tract diseases [45]. Bioaerosols are airborne particles consisting of living or dead organisms, as well as metabolites, toxins, and fragments of microorganisms [46].…”

Advancing the framework for considering the effects of climate change on worker safety and health

“…The rate of non-fatal injury in materials recovery facility workers in 2012 was 8.5 per 100 workers, compared with 5.1 per 100 for all waste management and remediation services workers, and 3.5 per 100 for all industries [149] . Specific hazards that have been identified include: acute injury in recycling center workers; [150] elevated exposures to heavy metals, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and flame retardants in electronic waste recycling workers; [151–154] an increase in symptoms likely related to organic dust exposure in industrial composting facility workers; [155] and, exposure to biological agents in recycling of domestic waste including plastics, textiles, and paper products [153] . Research to assess the occupational hazards in the recycling industry is often limited by the lack of sufficiently detailed data to separate recycling workers from other waste management workers [150] …”

Effects of bioaerosol exposure on respiratory health in compost workers: a 13-year follow-up study

“…The main outcome using the modified Poisson regression model, which considered the results from two examination dates (1996–1997 and 2009) for each person, resulted in a significantly increased risk for cough when working as a compost worker. A higher frequency of cough in compost workers has also been described in previous studies, but due to the cross-sectional design of these studies, the interpretation of causality was limited 12 13. Recently, Heldal et al found a significantly increased frequency of cough in compost plant workers (OR=4.3, 95% CI 1.0 to 18.2) using a cross-shift design.…”