Detection of Legionella-contaminated aerosols in the vicinity of a bio-trickling filter of a breeding sow facility - A pilot study.
The urbanization of agricultural areas results in a reduction of distances between residential buildings and livestock farms. In the public debate, livestock farming is increasingly criticized due to environmental disturbance and odor nuisance originating from such facilities. One method to reduce odor and ammonia is by exhaust air treatment, for example, by biological exhaust air purification processes with bio-trickling filters filled with tap water. Higher temperatures in the summer time and the generation of biofilms are ideal growth conditions for Legionella. However, there are no studies on the presence of Legionella in the water of bio-trickling filters and the release of Legionella-containing aerosols. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate Legionella in wash water and emitted bioaerosols of a bio-trickling filter system of a breeding sow facility. For this purpose, measurements were carried out using a cyclone sampler. In addition, samples of wash water were taken. Legionella were not found by culture methods. However, using molecular biological methods, Legionella spp. could be detected in wash water as well as in bioaerosol samples. With antibody-based methods, Legionella pneumophila were identified. Further studies are needed to investigate the environmental health relevance of Legionella-containing aerosols emitted by such exhaust air purification systems.
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Occupational and Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: sandra.walser@lgl.bayern.de.
Sandra M
SM
Walser
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Occupational and Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Munich, Germany.
Bernhard
B
Brenner
Technical University of Munich, Analytical Chemistry & Institute of Hydrochemistry, Munich, Germany.
Anika
A
Wunderlich
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Hygiene, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
Christian
C
Tuschak
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Hygiene, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
Stefanie
S
Huber
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Occupational and Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Munich, Germany; Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Clinical Centre of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany.
Stefanie
S
Kolb
Technical University of Munich, Analytical Chemistry & Institute of Hydrochemistry, Munich, Germany.
Reinhard
R
Niessner
Technical University of Munich, Analytical Chemistry & Institute of Hydrochemistry, Munich, Germany.
Michael
M
Seidel
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Hygiene, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
Christiane
C
Höller
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Occupational and Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Munich, Germany; University of Munich, Germany.
Caroline E W
CEW
Herr
D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D000072480:Farms; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D007875:Legionella / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013552:Swine
D000336:Aerosols
Aerosol; Bio-trickling; Immunoassay; Legionella; Livestock farming; Sampling