(M)VOC and composting facilities. Part 1: (M)VOC emissions from municipal biowaste and plant refuse.
OBJECTIVE
Malodorous volatiles derived from the decomposition of biowaste within the process of composting might pose a risk to human health. Different techniques of process engineering have been developed to minimise the burden of malodorous compounds in air possibly affecting compost workers and residents in the vicinity.


METHODS
In the present study, three different composting facilities were examined for the emission of volatiles to estimate the impact of process engineering on the dispersal of odorous compounds and to discuss its relevance for human health.


CONCLUSIONS
Concentrations of single compounds belonging to alcohols, ketones, furanes, sulfur-containing compounds and especially terpenes ranged from 10(2) up to nearly 10(6) ng/m3 depending on the sampling sites and the process engineering. The ratio of MVOC and total VOC measured changed throughout the process of biodegradation. A certain combination of volatile compounds coincided with the occurrence of typical compost odour.


CONCLUSIONS
The type of process engineering seemed to have a major impact on the emission of volatiles, as amounts of (microbial) volatiles emitted were characteristic for the different techniques used. Thus, the MVOC emission basically depends on the degree of biodegradation. It is likely that the concentrations workers are exposed to can have an impact on human health.


CONCLUSIONS
It is obvious that less sophisticated types of process engineering give rise to greater amounts of bioaerosols and volatiles and, therefore, technical devices have to be improved and controlled regularly to minimise adverse health effects on workers.
Müller
Thomas
T
Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Technical University of Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. Thomas.Mueller@post.rwth-aachen.de
Thissen
Ralf
R
Braun
Silvia
S
Dott
Wolfgang
W
Fischer
Guido
G
D019149:Bioreactors; D004738:Engineering; D004779:Environment Design; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D009812:Odorants; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011634:Public Health; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D014835:Volatilization
D009930:Organic Chemicals