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Volatile organic compounds and bioaerosols in the vicinity of a municipal waste organic fraction treatment plant. Human health risks

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to analyze air concentrations of chemical and microbiological pollutants in the vicinity of an organic waste treatment plant, Ecoparc-2, located in Montcada i Reixac (Catalonia, Spain), as well as to determine the seasonal trends. The human health risks due to the presence of those agents were also assessed.

Methods

Air samples were collected at different distances and wind directions from the Ecoparc-2 in two campaigns (winter and summer of 2010). The levels of 19 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were analyzed by GC-MS or HPLC-UV. In turn, the airborne amount of total bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and fungi (including Aspergillus fumigatus) was also determined.

Results

Mean VOC concentrations were found to be 32.4 and 15.7 μg/m3 in winter and summer, respectively. Fungi at 25°C presented the highest geometric mean (1,126 and 863 cfu/m3 in winter and summer, respectively), while the concentrations of fungi at 37°C and total bacteria were also important in the hot season (332 and 250 cfu/m3, respectively). These results are in agreement with data obtained from the scientific literature. Anyhow, no significant differences were observed between both campaigns including those related to distances and wind directions. The current pollutant levels in the surrounding environment were also various orders of magnitude lower than those recently observed inside the facility.

Conclusions

The human exposure to VOCs near the Ecoparc-2 was estimated to be low. Furthermore, the current environmental concentrations of those chemical and microbiological agents were clearly below threshold values recommended by regulatory organizations.

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Acknowledgments

The present study was financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, through the project CTM2009-09338. Gloria Sanchez and Jessica Jimenez are acknowledged for providing valuation information for air sampling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain

    Lolita Vilavert, Martí Nadal & José L. Domingo

  2. Unit of Microbiology, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain

    María J. Figueras

Authors
  1. Lolita Vilavert
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  2. Martí Nadal
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  3. María J. Figueras
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  4. José L. Domingo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to José L. Domingo.

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Responsible editor: Euripides Stephanou

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Vilavert, L., Nadal, M., Figueras, M.J. et al. Volatile organic compounds and bioaerosols in the vicinity of a municipal waste organic fraction treatment plant. Human health risks. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 96–104 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0547-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0547-8

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