LAUSR

The waste management sector takes a central part in the transition towards circular economy and is subject to technological progress and the implementation of new work operations. Traditional waste collection and processing systems are characterized by numerous tasks that favour waste workers’ exposure to bioaerosols, whereas exposure in modern automated waste sorting plants remains elusive. Moreover, there is still a lack of health-risk based exposure limits for most components contained in bioaerosols. We investigated occupational exposure to bioaerosols in traditional and automated waste sorting plants. The results revealed significant differences in various exposure levels, such as total dust (GM automated: 0.34 mg/m3, GM manual: 0.66 mg/m3), endotoxins (GM automated: 51 EU/m3, GM manual: 32 EU/m3) and microorganisms between and within type of plant. An assessment of the composition of air-borne fungal particles (FESEM based immunodetection method) showed significantly increased levels of fungal spores at automated waste sorting plants (GM automated: 1.2 × 105 spores/m3, GM manual: 2.1 × 104 spores/m3). Elevated total dust levels and concentrations of submicronic fungal fragments were significantly correlated to the occurrence of symptoms of the extrathoracic region, such as congested nose, in exposed workers. The results of this study showed high variation in exposure levels between and within type of waste sorting plant, as well as seasonal variation for some parameters, such as total dust and endotoxins. This indicates that Norwegian waste workers are potentially exposed to high levels of dust and microorganisms that may cause adverse health effects in receptible individuals.