Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
2568472 
Journal Article 
Determination of emitted airborne microorganisms from a BIO-PAK wastewater treatment plant 
Korzeniewska, E; Filipkowska, Z; Gotkowska-Plachta, A; Janczukowicz, W; Dixon, B; Czulowska, M 
2009 
1 
Water Research
ISSN: 0043-1354
EISSN: 1879-2448 
43 
11 
2841-2851 
English 
19428042 
WOS:000267312900008 
Results of a study conducted to assess the degree of airborne microbial contamination generated by a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with bioreactor "BIO-PAK" closed treatment system and evaluation of the dispersion of potential pathogens are described. Over the year aerosol samples were collected simultaneously with sedimentation and impact methods from several plant sites and the surroundings. External upwind sites were used as control. Total colony-forming counts of heterotrophic psychrophilic, psychrotrophic, mesophilic, haemolytic bacteria, as well as members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus and Pseudomonas genera, actinomycetes and fungi (moulds, yeasts and yeast-like fungi) were determined. Their highest concentrations ranged up to 10(1)-10(3) CFU/m(3) (with the exception of moulds exceeding 2 x 10(4)) were determined in air sampled inside the bioreactor, its vicinity, and near the grate chamber. Higher species diversity of the family Enterobacteriaceae (including Shigella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae ozaenae) in the air sampled inside or near the bioreactor may imply a health risk for staff exposed for longer periods of time. Notwithstanding, no increased emission of the analysed groups of microorganisms, including faecal bacteria, were found outside the WWTP. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 
Bioaerosol; BIO-PAK system; Airborne bacteria; Airborne moulds; Airborne yeasts; Sewage