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Viegas C, Eriksen E, Gomes B, Dias M, Cervantes R, Pena P, Carolino E, Twarużek M, Caetano LA, Viegas S, Graff P, Afanou AK, Straumfors A. Comprehensive assessment of occupational exposure to microbial contamination in waste sorting facilities from Norway. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1297725. [PMID: 38179569 PMCID: PMC10766354 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1297725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction It is of upmost importance to contribute to fill the knowledge gap concerning the characterization of the occupational exposure to microbial agents in the waste sorting setting (automated and manual sorting). Methods This study intends to apply a comprehensive field sampling and laboratory protocol (culture based-methods and molecular tools), assess fungal azole resistance, as well as to elucidate on potential exposure related health effects (cytotoxicity analyses). Skin-biota samples (eSwabs) were performed on workers and controls to identify other exposure routes. Results In personal filter samples the guidelines in one automated industry surpassed the guidelines for fungi. Seasonal influence on viable microbial contamination including fungi with reduced susceptibility to the tested azoles was observed, besides the observed reduced susceptibility of pathogens of critical priority (Mucorales and Fusarium sp.). Aspergillus sections with potential toxigenic effect and with clinical relevance were also detected in all the sampling methods. Discussion The results regarding skin-biota in both controls´ and workers´ hands claim attention for the possible exposure due to hand to face/mouth contact. This study allowed concluding that working in automated and manual waste sorting plants imply high exposure to microbial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Viegas
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elke Eriksen
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Oslo, Norway
| | - Bianca Gomes
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- CE3C – Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Change, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Dias
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Renata Cervantes
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pedro Pena
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Carolino
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Magdalena Twarużek
- Kazimierz Wielki University, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Chodkiewicza, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Liliana Aranha Caetano
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.uLisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Viegas
- H&TRC – Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL – Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Pål Graff
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Anne Straumfors
- National Institute of Occupational Health (STAMI), Oslo, Norway
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Eriksen E, Afanou AK, Straumfors A, Graff P. Bioaerosol-induced in vitro activation of toll-like receptors and inflammatory biomarker expression in waste workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2023; 96:985-998. [PMID: 37243736 PMCID: PMC10361871 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-023-01984-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Occupational exposure to bioaerosols during waste handling remains a health concern for exposed workers. However, exposure-related health effects and underlying immunological mechanisms are still poorly described. METHODS The present study assessed the inflammatory potential of work-air samples (n = 56) in vitro and investigated biomarker expression in exposed workers (n = 69) compared to unexposed controls (n = 25). These quantitative results were compared to self-reported health conditions. RESULTS Personal air samples provoked an activation of TLR2 and TLR4 HEK reporter cells in one-third of all samples, indicating that the work environment contained ligands capable of inducing an immune response in vitro. Monocyte levels, as well as plasma biomarker levels, such as IL-1Ra, IL-18 and TNFα were significantly higher in exposed workers, compared to the control group when confounding factors such as BMI, sex, age and smoking habits were accounted for. Furthermore, a significant exposure-related increase in midweek IL-8 levels was measured among exposed workers. Tendencies of increased prevalence of health effects of the respiratory tract were identified in exposed workers. CONCLUSION Inhalable dust provoked TLR activation in vitro, indicating that an exposure-related immune response may be expected in susceptible workers. However, despite significant differences in inflammatory plasma biomarker levels between exposed and unexposed workers, prevalence of self-reported health effects did not differ between the groups. This may be due to the healthy worker effect, or other factors such as adequate use of personal protective respiratory devices or adaptation to the work environment with reduced activation of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Eriksen
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Anani Komlavi Afanou
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Straumfors
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pål Graff
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway
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Eriksen E, Madsen AM, Afanou AK, Straumfors A, Eiler A, Graff P. Occupational exposure to inhalable pathogenic microorganisms in waste sorting. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 253:114240. [PMID: 37633050 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
This study assessed microorganisms in personal inhalable work air samples aiming to identify potential human pathogens, and correlate exposure to adverse health outcomes in waste workers. Full-shift personal exposure was measured in six different waste sorting plants. Microbial concentrations in inhalable air samples were analysed using MALDI-TOF MS for cultivable, and next generation sequencing (NGS) for non-cultivable microorganisms. Concentrations of bacterial and fungal CFUs varied substantially within and between waste sorting plants, ranging from no identifiable organisms to a maximum concentration in the order of 105 CFU/m3. Bacillus and Staphylococcus were among the most abundant bacterial genera, whilst fungal genera were dominated by Aspergillus and Penicillium. Approximately 15% of all identified species were human pathogens classified in risk group 2, whereas 7% belonged to risk group 1. Furthermore, significant correlations between concentrations of fungi in risk group 1 and self-reported adverse symptoms, such as wheezing were identified in exposed workers. The combination of culture-based methods and NGS facilitated the investigation of infectious microbial species with potential pathophysiological properties as well as non-infectious biological agents in inhalable work air samples and thereby contributed to the risk assessment of occupational exposure in waste sorting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Eriksen
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway; Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology, Department of Biosciences, Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, University of Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Anne Mette Madsen
- The National Research Center for Work Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anani Komlavi Afanou
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Straumfors
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alexander Eiler
- Section for Aquatic Biology and Toxicology, Department of Biosciences, Centre for Biogeochemistry in the Anthropocene, University of Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pål Graff
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway
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Kang X, Lü F, Wang Y, Duan H, Zhang H, He P. Metagenomic analysis of microbiological risk in bioaerosols during biowaste valorization using Musca domestica. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 320:121118. [PMID: 36681377 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Bioconversion using insects has gradually become a promising technology for biowaste management and protein production. However, knowledge about microbiological risk of insect related bioaerosols is sparse and conventional methods failed to provide higher resolved information of environmental microbe. In this study, a metagenomic analysis including microorganisms, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factor genes (VFGs), mobile gene elements (MGEs), and endotoxin distribution in bioaerosols during biowaste conversion via Musca domestica revealed that bioaerosols in Fly rearing room possess the highest ARGs abundances and MGEs diversity. Through a metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs)-based pipeline, compelling evidence of ARGs/VFGs host assignment and ARG-VFG co-occurrence pattern were provided from metagenomic perspective. Bioaerosols in Bioconversion and Maggot separation zone were identified to own high density of MAGs carrying both ARGs and VFGs. Bacteria in Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Firmicutes phyla were predominate hosts of ARGs and VFGs. Multidrug-Motility, Multidrug-Adherence, and Beta lactam-Motility pairs were the most common ARG-VFG co-occurrence pattern in this study. Results obtained are of great significance for microbiological risk assessment during housefly biowaste conversion process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyue Kang
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Fan Lü
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Multi-source Solid Wastes Co-processing and Energy Utilization, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yujing Wang
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Haowen Duan
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Multi-source Solid Wastes Co-processing and Energy Utilization, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Pinjing He
- Institute of Waste Treatment & Reclamation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Multi-source Solid Wastes Co-processing and Energy Utilization, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Divergent TLR2 and TLR4 Activation by Fungal Spores and Species Diversity in Dust from Waste Sorting Plants. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0173422. [PMID: 36856441 PMCID: PMC10056968 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01734-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
This manuscript presents the results of an exploratory study on the relationships between NF-κB response through Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation by dust characterized by fungal spore concentrations and species diversity. Personal total dust samples were collected from Norwegian waste sorting plants and then characterized for fungal spores and fungal species diversity, as well as for other bioaerosol components, including endotoxins and actinobacteria. The ability of the dust to induce an NF-κB response by activating TLR2 and TLR4 in vitro was evaluated, as well as the relationship between such responses and quantifiable bioaerosol components. The average concentrations of bioaerosols were 7.23 mg total dust m-3, 4.49 × 105 fungal spores m-3, 814 endotoxin units m-3, and 0.6 × 105 actinobacteria m-3. The mean diversity measurements were 326, 0.59, and 3.39 for fungal richness, evenness, and Shannon index, respectively. Overall, fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to the Ascomycota phylum were most abundant (55%), followed by Basidiomycota (33%) and Mucoromycota (3%). All samples induced significant NF-κB responses through TLR2 and TLR4 activation. While fungal spore levels were positively associated with TLR2 and TLR4 activation, there was a trend that fungal species richness was negatively associated with the activation of these receptors. This observation supports the existence of divergent immunological response relationships between TLR activation and fungal spore levels on one hand and between TLR activation and fungal species diversity on the other. Such relationships seem to be described for the first time for dust from waste facilities. IMPORTANCE This manuscript presents results on multifactorial characterization of bioaerosol exposure in Norwegian waste sorting plants and the potential of such airborne dust to induce NF-κB reactions through TLR2 and TLR4 activations in an in vitro reporter cell model system. Our data revealed that increasing fungal spore levels in the dust is associated with increased activation of TLR2 and TLR4, whereas increasing fungal OTU richness is associated with decreasing activation of these receptors. The NF-κB-induced responses by the collected dust represent, therefore, effective measures of potential key immunological effects induced by a complex mixture of hazardous components, including characterized factors such as endotoxins, fungal spores, bacteria, and many other uncharacterized components. The key immunological events reported here are suggested as holistic alternatives to today's bioaerosol exposure characterization approaches for epidemiological studies in the future.
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Eriksen E, Afanou AK, Madsen AM, Straumfors A, Graff P. An assessment of occupational exposure to bioaerosols in automated versus manual waste sorting plants. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 218:115040. [PMID: 36521541 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Occupational exposure during waste sorting is associated with several health outcomes. This study obtained knowledge about the impact of work in fully automated waste sorting plants (AWSP; n = 3) vs manual waste sorting plants (MWSP; n = 3) on personal exposure (n = 71) to bioaerosols and exposure-related health effects. Personal full-shift air samples were collected using various filter-based active sampling devices that were placed in the workers' breathing zone. Personal exposure to inhalable and thoracic dust, endotoxin and microorganisms varied considerably between and within types of waste sorting plants (WSP). Workers at AWSP were on average exposed to 0.34 mg/m3 inhalable dust, 0.15 mg/m3 thoracic dust, and 51 EU/m3 endotoxins (geometric mean (GM) levels), whereas GM exposure levels at MWSP were 0.66 mg/m3 for inhalable dust, 0.44 mg/m3 for thoracic dust, and 32 EU/m3 for endotoxins. Exposure to submicronic fungal fragments did not differ between types of plants and ranged from levels below the detection limit (limit of detection, LOD) to levels in the order of 106 fragments/m3. Higher levels of fungal fragments and fungal spores were found at AWSP compared to MWSP with a GM of 2.1 × 105 spores/m3and with a GM of 1.2 × 105 spores/m3, respectively. Actinobacterial spores were found in samples from AWSP only, with exposure levels ranging from 1.9 × 104 to 1.1 × 107 spores/m3. Exposure to microbial DNA varied within and between WSP and was on average in the order of 104 copies/m3 for fungi and 105 copies/m3 for bacteria. Health symptoms, such as sneezing, congested nose and runny nose were significantly more common among exposed workers compared to the unexposed control group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Eriksen
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Anani Komlavi Afanou
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Mette Madsen
- The National Research Center for Work Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Straumfors
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pål Graff
- STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Gydas Vei 8, 0363, Oslo, Norway
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