title: Green job bio-aerosol exposure during anaerobic digestion for biomass energetic valorisation.
abstract: The continued expansion of the green economy increases the risk profile for green occupational jobs. One of the broadest green sectors in terms of growth is the anaerobic digestion of biomasses. In recent years, this development has also interested Italian regions. The management of biomass includes biological risk and the risk of particulate and endotoxin exposure. In the present study, we evaluated airborne exposure for anaerobic digestion workers at two real-scale plants. Digested biomass has different origins, ranging from cattle sludge and manure to poultry manure to agricultural harvesting or processing residues, particularly from maize and fruits. Two sampling points were chosen: at the first, the input biomasses were stored, and the hopper was loaded; at the second, the digested sludge exited the digester. The microbiological parameters, assessed using an active sampler and cultural method, were the total bacteria counts (at 22, 37, and 55°C), yeasts, fungi, Pseudomonaceae, Clostridia spp., Enterobacteriaceae and Actinomycetes. Moreover, at the same sampling points, we evaluated six PM10 fraction levels (10.0-7.2, 7.2-3.0, 3.0-1.5, 1.5-0.95, 0.95-0.49, and <0.49µm) and the endotoxin content of each fraction. In this investigation, the microbe contamination of the air varied from low to high levels, while the PM10 and endotoxin levels were limited, reaching rural environmental levels (61.40µg/m(3) and 18.88EU/m(3), respectively). However, contamination and occupational risk must be evaluated individually for each plant because numerous variables influence the risk magnitude, particularly digested sludge treatments, such as input biomass nature, storage, movement conditions, building configuration and technological processes.
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, Italy. Electronic address: deborah.traversi@unito.it.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Traversi
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Gorrasi
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Bonetta
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Leinardi
authors: Department Productive Plants & Environment Interaction (DIPIA), National Institute of Occupational Safety & Prevention INAIL, I-00184 Rome, Italy.
authors: Biancamaria
authors: B
authors: Pietrangeli
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Carraro
authors: Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, Italy.
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Gilli
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D056804:Biofuels; D019149:Bioreactors; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D056804:Biofuels; D004731:Endotoxins; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Bio-aerosol; Endotoxin; Fine PM; Green jobs; Occupational exposure; Pm10