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Introduction: Money is the most common item with which we have daily contact. Circulated banknotes and coins can become microbiologically contaminated and act as both a source and a means of spreading such pollutants. Material and methods: The study was carried out in three money sorting facilities in Poland. Bioaerosol samples were collected using a 6-stage Andersen impactor, and microorganisms deposited on tabletop surfaces were sampled using the swab method. Bacterial and fungal concentrations were calculated and all isolated species were taxonomically identified. Results: The study confirmed that means of payment are active sources of microbial emission in money sorting facilities. The bioaerosol concentrations did not exceed the threshold limit values proposed for this type of office premises. It confirms that ventilation systems in these facilities worked efficiently, protecting them from the migration of microbial contaminants present in both indoor and outdoor (atmospheric) background air. On the other hand, the average concentrations of bacteria and fungi on tabletop surfaces in banknote and coin sorting rooms were above the proposed purity levels for indoor surfaces and should be treated as microbiologically contaminated. Microbiota isolated from the air and surfaces were very diverse and among those strains were bacterial and fungal pathogens that can pose a health threat to exposed individuals. Conclusions: The results showed that employees in money sorting facilities were exposed to microorganisms that may contribute to the development of adverse health outcomes. To protect them, highly efficient hygienic measures should be introduced in this working environment, to prevent both unwanted pollution and subsequent secondary emission of microbial contaminants from sorted means of payment and tabletop surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess exposure to airborne endotoxins and peptidoglycans (PGs) as well as possibility of using PGs as a surrogate measure of bacterial exposure in workplaces in a metal processing plant.Material and Methods: Personal dosimetry (N = 11) was used to obtain data on concentrations of viable bacteria, total number of bioaerosol particles, endotoxins and peptidoglycans. To investigate the size distributions of aerosol particles responsible for transport of endotoxins and PGs, air samples (N = 5) were additionally collected using the 8-stage cascade impactor. Endotoxins and PGs were assayed with the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test and a kinetic version of the silkworm larvae plasma (SLP) test, respectively.Results: Median concentrations of airborne PGs (14.6 ng/m3), endotoxins (0.2 ng/m3), viable bacteria (1.16×103 CFU/m3) and the total number of bioaerosol particles (1.81×106 cells/m3) were determined. Qualitative analysis revealed presence of 19 bacterial species belonging to 14 genera. The calculations showed strong, significant correlations (p < 0.05) between endotoxins, viable bacteria (r = 0.75) and the total number of bioaerosol particle concentrations (r = 0.76) as well as between PGs and the total number of bioaerosol particle concentrations (r = 0.72). Size distribution analysis showed that the highest concentrations of bacterial aerosols occurred in the range of 2.1-3.3 μm. In the case of endotoxins, an increase of concentrations in 2 ranges of aerodynamic diameters: 1.1-3.3 μm and 5.8-9 μm was shown. For PGs there was a visible gradual increase of their concentrations in the range 2.1-9 μm.Conclusions: Peptidoglycans can be treated as a supporting indicator of bacterial contamination in metal processing plants, particularly when an assessment of an immunotoxic potential of microbiological hazards needs to be performed. However, to be extrapolated to other occupational and non-occupational environments, the obtained results require a further verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To date, the scientific source materials usually focus on microbial contamination of the museum or library collections themselves, while the exposure of persons who professionally deal with this type of objects in cultural heritage conservation laboratories is ignored.Material and Methods: The study was carried out in 9 naturally ventilated conservation laboratories with no history of water damage. Viable (understood as culturable) bioaerosol stationary samples were collected in both outdoor and indoor environments using 6-stage Andersen impactor. Simultaneously, stationary and personal indoor bioaerosol measurements were carried out using both Gesamtstaubprobenahme an der Person (GSP) and Button filter samplers. These measurements were complemented by evaluation of microbial content in the dust settled on conserved works of art. All impactor, filter, and settled dust samples were quantitatively examined to obtain viable and total concentrations of bacteria and fungi. All isolated microbial strains were taxonomically identified.Results: At workplaces, the concentrations of viable microorganisms in air were below 2000 cfu/m3 and accounted for not more than 5.5% of total microbiota. The study showed that quantitative assessment of viable bioaerosol can be made with an Andersen impactor as well as by using Button and GSP filter samplers, irrespective of whether they are applied for personal or stationary measurements. Compared to the impactor, however, the use of filter samplers for microbial contamination monitoring substantially limits the scope of qualitative information which can be obtained. Size distribution analysis revealed that the largest "load" of microorganisms can penetrate into the respiratory tract between the trachea and terminal bronchi, and thereby may be responsible for allergic inflammations in exposed workers.Conclusions: The precise assessment of microbial hazards in conservation laboratories should comprise control of both viable and total particle counts. The hermetization of such workplaces and control of relative humidity should be implemented and maintained to assure proper hygienic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid waste storage in specially designated areas - landfills - has been the basic method of municipal solid waste disposal management for many years. However, thermal treatment is the currently preferred method of solid waste disposal. Hygienic assessment of working conditions in municipal waste incineration plants is hindered due to the variability and complexity of pollutants emitted during the combustion process. For many years studies describing this problem have focused mainly on chemical pollution inside the plants as well as emitted into the atmosphere. Available data indicates the presence of organic dust at workplaces in the range 0.1-14 mg/m 3 . It has been proven that it is a carrier of a wide spectrum of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and both mesophilic and thermophilic actinomycetes as well as adenoviruses and torque teno virus (TTV). In the air, at workplaces, bacterial endotoxins have also been found in concentrations reaching even 50 000 EU/m 3 , which may significantly affect the occurrence of pro-inflammatory reactions in the lungs as well as toxic pneumonitis. Biological agents should be taken into account in the occupational risk assessment for harmful agents present in this environment, and an in-depth characterization of exposure and health effects resulting from contact with these agents should be continued to an even greater extent than before. Med Pr. 2019;70(1):99-105., (This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.)

A questionnaire study was performed in 99 workers at a large sewage treatment plant to investigate self-reported health complaints from workplace exposure to bioaerosols. The study population was divided into subgroups according to different work stations: mechanical treatment (MT), biological treatment (BT), sewage sludge treatment (SST) and operation control (OC). The questionnaire included personal data, workpost and job characteristics, exposure to chemicals, history of employment and exposure, workplace hygiene and protective measures, smoking and drinking habits. There was also a series of 25 questions on subjective health complaints grouped into the following clusters: 'flu-like symptoms', 'respiratory symptoms', 'nose, eye, throat and skin irritation', 'neurological symptoms' and 'gastrointestinal symptoms'. Each subject was asked whether the complaints had occurred 'frequently', 'rarely', or 'never' within the previous 12 months. Air concentrations of endotoxins and (1 --> 3)- beta-D-glucans in the worker's breathing zone were also determined. The measurements of concentrations were made in the summertime during a morning shift. To determine endotoxins concentration, the Chromogenic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) Test was applied. The questionnaire data and determination results were subject to a statistical analysis. No statistically significant relationship was found between the reported health complaints and such variables as job title, exposure to endotoxins and glucans, tobacco smoking, age and period of employment as sewage worker. The findings revealed that among the complaints, muscle and joint ache was reported most frequently, while among the symptom clusters, the flu-like symptoms prevailed. These symptom clusters occurred most frequently in OC workers, and were least often found in SST workers. In the worker's breathing zone, the geometric mean concentration of endotoxins amounted to 20.3 ng/m3 and of glucans to 7.76 ng/m3, and was not related to job title or job characteristics. A high correlation was found between endotoxins and (1 --> 3)- beta -D-glucans concentrations (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.86, p < 0.0005).