Cranfield University, Centre for Energy and Resource Technology, Sustainable Systems, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK.
Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2011 Sep;214(5):376-83. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2011.06.001. Epub 2011 Jul 6.
The emission and dispersal of bioaerosols from open-air commercial composting facilities continues to be contentious. A meta-dataset enumerating cultivable microorganism emission and downwind concentrations is not yet available. A dataset derived from repeated and replicated field studies over a period of two years at two commercial composting facilities is presented. The data characterises patterns in Aspergillus fumigatus, actinomycetes, Gram-negative bacteria and endotoxin emission and downwind concentrations. For all bioaerosols, compost agitation activities had a significant impact on concentrations; levels were variable up to 600 m downwind from site. Bioaerosols declined rapidly from source and exhibited a secondary peak 100-150 m from site boundary. All bioaerosols were found downwind from site in elevated concentrations. Compared to those found 100 m upwind, levels were significantly higher at 180 m downwind for A. fumigatus; at 300-400 m for actinomycetes and Gram negative bacteria, and at 100 m for endotoxins. Periodically, elevated concentrations could be found for all bioaerosols at distances further downwind. The evidence provided by this data set provides operators and regulators of facilities with reliable data to inform the location, risk assessment and bioaerosol sampling strategies of commercial composting facilities.
露天商业堆肥设施中生物气溶胶的排放和扩散仍然存在争议。目前还没有枚举可培养微生物排放和下风浓度的元数据集。本文介绍了一个源自两年内在两个商业堆肥设施中进行的重复和复制现场研究的数据组。该数据集描述了烟曲霉、放线菌、革兰氏阴性菌和内毒素排放及下风浓度的模式。对于所有生物气溶胶，堆肥搅拌活动对浓度有显著影响；下风方向 600 米范围内浓度变化较大。生物气溶胶从源头上迅速下降，并在距场地边界 100-150 米处出现第二个峰值。所有生物气溶胶在下风向的场地都被发现处于高浓度状态。与上风 100 米处相比，下风 180 米处烟曲霉的浓度明显更高；下风 300-400 米处放线菌和革兰氏阴性菌的浓度更高，下风 100 米处内毒素的浓度更高。在更远的下风距离处，有时会发现所有生物气溶胶的浓度升高。该数据集提供的证据为设施的操作人员和监管机构提供了可靠的数据，以便为商业堆肥设施的位置、风险评估和生物气溶胶采样策略提供信息。
