| Title: | Volatile organic compounds and bioaerosols in the vicinity of a municipal waste organic fraction treatment plant. Human health risks |
| Author(s): | Vilavert L; Nadal M; Figueras MJ; Domingo JL; |
| Address: | "Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Catalonia, Spain" |
| Journal Title: | Environ Sci Pollut Res Int |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11356-011-0547-8 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1614-7499 (Electronic) 0944-1344 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze air concentrations of chemical and microbiological pollutants in the vicinity of an organic waste treatment plant, Ecoparc-2, located in Montcada i Reixac (Catalonia, Spain), as well as to determine the seasonal trends. The human health risks due to the presence of those agents were also assessed. METHODS: Air samples were collected at different distances and wind directions from the Ecoparc-2 in two campaigns (winter and summer of 2010). The levels of 19 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were analyzed by GC-MS or HPLC-UV. In turn, the airborne amount of total bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and fungi (including Aspergillus fumigatus) was also determined. RESULTS: Mean VOC concentrations were found to be 32.4 and 15.7 mug/m(3) in winter and summer, respectively. Fungi at 25 degrees C presented the highest geometric mean (1,126 and 863 cfu/m(3) in winter and summer, respectively), while the concentrations of fungi at 37 degrees C and total bacteria were also important in the hot season (332 and 250 cfu/m(3), respectively). These results are in agreement with data obtained from the scientific literature. Anyhow, no significant differences were observed between both campaigns including those related to distances and wind directions. The current pollutant levels in the surrounding environment were also various orders of magnitude lower than those recently observed inside the facility. CONCLUSIONS: The human exposure to VOCs near the Ecoparc-2 was estimated to be low. Furthermore, the current environmental concentrations of those chemical and microbiological agents were clearly below threshold values recommended by regulatory organizations" |
| Keywords: | Aerosols/*analysis Cities Environmental Exposure/*analysis Environmental Pollutants/*analysis Humans *Industry Risk Assessment Seasons Spain Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis Waste Management/*methods; |
| Notes: | "MedlineVilavert, Lolita Nadal, Marti Figueras, Maria J Domingo, Jose L eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Germany 2011/06/21 Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2012 Jan; 19(1):96-104. doi: 10.1007/s11356-011-0547-8. Epub 2011 Jun 18" |
