Baseline levels of bioaerosols and volatile organic compounds around a municipal waste incinerator prior to the construction of a mechanical-biological treatment plant.
New waste management programs are currently aimed at developing alternative treatment technologies such as mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) and composting plants. However, there is still a high uncertainty concerning the chemical and microbiological risks for human health, not only for workers of these facilities, but also for the population living in the neighborhood. A new MBT plant is planned to be constructed adjacently to a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) in Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). In order to evaluate its potential impact and to differentiate the impacts of MSWI from those of the MBT when the latter is operative, a pre-operational survey was initiated by determining the concentrations of 20 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and bioaerosols (total bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, fungi and Aspergillus fumigatus) in airborne samples around the MSWI. The results indicated that the current concentrations of bioaerosols (ranges: 382-3882, 18-790, 44-926, and <1-7 CFU/m(3) for fungi at 25 degrees C, fungi at 37 degrees C, total bacteria, and gram-negative bacteria, respectively) and VOCs (ranging from 0.9 to 121.2 microg/m(3)) are very low in comparison to reported levels in indoor and outdoor air in composting and MBT plants, as well in urban and industrial zones. With the exception of total bacteria, no correlations were observed between the environmental concentrations of biological agents and the direction/distance from the facility. However, total bacteria presented significantly higher levels downwind. Moreover, a non-significant increase of VOCs was detected in sites closer to the incinerator, which means that the MSWI could have a very minor impact on the surrounding environment.
Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine,Rovira i Virgili University, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
Lolita
L
Vilavert
Martí
M
Nadal
Isabel
I
Inza
María J
MJ
Figueras
José L
JL
Domingo
D000336:Aerosols; D000391:Air Microbiology / Q000592:standards; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D060729:Coal Ash; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017745:Incineration; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry; D012016:Reference Values; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D060729:Coal Ash; D052638:Particulate Matter; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D002244:Carbon