Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2012 Jan;19(1):96-104. doi: 10.1007/s11356-011-0547-8. Epub 2011 Jun 18.
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.
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.
Mean VOC concentrations were found to be 32.4 and 15.7 μg/m(3) in winter and summer, respectively. Fungi at 25°C presented the highest geometric mean (1,126 and 863 cfu/m(3) 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/m(3), 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.
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.
本研究旨在分析位于西班牙加泰罗尼亚蒙卡达雷雅克的有机废物处理厂 Ecoparc-2 附近空气中化学和微生物污染物的浓度，并确定季节性趋势。还评估了这些物质存在对人体健康的风险。
在 2010 年冬季和夏季两次活动中，在 Ecoparc-2 的不同距离和风向处采集空气样本。通过 GC-MS 或 HPLC-UV 分析了 19 种挥发性有机化合物（VOC）的水平。反过来，还测定了空气中总细菌、革兰氏阴性菌和真菌（包括烟曲霉）的数量。
发现冬季和夏季的平均 VOC 浓度分别为 32.4 和 15.7 μg/m3。在 25°C 下，真菌的几何平均值最高（分别为 1126 和 863 cfu/m3，冬季和夏季），而在炎热季节，真菌在 37°C 和总细菌的浓度也很重要（分别为 332 和 250 cfu/m3）。这些结果与科学文献中的数据一致。然而，两次活动之间，包括距离和风向，均未观察到显著差异。周围环境中的当前污染物水平也比设施内最近观察到的水平低几个数量级。
Ecoparc-2 附近人体接触 VOC 的水平估计较低。此外，目前这些化学和微生物制剂的环境浓度明显低于监管机构建议的阈值值。
