A Controlled Study on the Characterisation of Bioaerosols Emissions from Compost

Zaheer Ahmad Nasir*, Catherine Rolph, Samuel Collins, David Stevenson, Toni L. Gladding, Enda Hayes, Ben Williams, Shagun Khera, Simon Jackson, Allan Bennett, Simon Parks, Robert P. Kinnersley, Kerry Walsh, Simon J.T. Pollard, Gillian Drew, Sonia Garcia Alcega, Frederic Coulon, Sean Tyrrel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

<jats:p>Bioaerosol emissions arising from biowaste treatment are an issue of public concern. To better characterise the bioaerosols, and to assess a range of measurement methods, we aerosolised green waste compost under controlled conditions. Viable and non-viable Andersen samplers, cyclone samplers and a real time bioaerosol detection system (Spectral Intensity Bioaerosol Sensor (SIBS)) were deployed simultaneously. The number-weighted fraction of fluorescent particles was in the range 22–26% of all particles for low and high emission scenarios. Overall fluorescence spectral profiles seen by the SIBS exhibited several peaks across the 16 wavelength bands from 298 to 735 nm. The size-fractionated endotoxin profile showed most endotoxin resided in the 2.1–9 μm aerodynamic diameter fraction, though up to 27% was found in a finer size fraction. A range of microorganisms were detected through culture, Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption and Ionisation Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), including Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. These findings contribute to our knowledge of the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of bioaerosols from composting sites, as well as informing future monitoring approaches and data interpretation for bioaerosol measurement.</jats:p>
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)379-379
Number of pages0
JournalAtmosphere
Volume9
Issue number10
Early online date28 Sept 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Sept 2018

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