Occupational health of drilling waste workers as related to microbial exposure and waste treatment methods.

Objectives: Exposure to microorganisms is a known contributor to occupational disease. This study assessed drilling waste workers' health status and investigated the potential of inhalable bioaerosols to elicit an immune response in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: Venous blood and self-reported health data were collected from 56 and 73 Norwegian drilling waste workers, respectively.

Comprehensive assessment of occupational exposure to microbial contamination in waste sorting facilities from Norway.

Introduction: It is of upmost importance to contribute to fill the knowledge gap concerning the characterization of the occupational exposure to microbial agents in the waste sorting setting (automated and manual sorting).

Methods: This study intends to apply a comprehensive field sampling and laboratory protocol (culture based-methods and molecular tools), assess fungal azole resistance, as well as to elucidate on potential exposure related health effects (cytotoxicity analyses). Skin-biota samples (eSwabs) were performed on workers and controls to identify other exposure routes.

A cross-sectional study on occupational exposure to microorganisms, endotoxin, hydrogen sulfide, and dust during work at drilling waste treatment plants.

This cross-sectional study aims to obtain knowledge about workers' exposure to airborne dust, bacterial and fungal species, endotoxin, biofilm formation, and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in drilling waste treatment plants. In total, 408 full-shift personal samples, 66 work areas, 40 drilling waste, and reference (outdoor air and seawater) samples were analyzed. Some workers were exposed to high levels of endotoxin (207 EU/m3), bacteria (3.

Occupational exposure to inhalable pathogenic microorganisms in waste sorting.

This study assessed microorganisms in personal inhalable work air samples aiming to identify potential human pathogens, and correlate exposure to adverse health outcomes in waste workers. Full-shift personal exposure was measured in six different waste sorting plants. Microbial concentrations in inhalable air samples were analysed using MALDI-TOF MS for cultivable, and next generation sequencing (NGS) for non-cultivable microorganisms.

Bioaerosol-induced in vitro activation of toll-like receptors and inflammatory biomarker expression in waste workers.

Purpose: Occupational exposure to bioaerosols during waste handling remains a health concern for exposed workers. However, exposure-related health effects and underlying immunological mechanisms are still poorly described.

Methods: The present study assessed the inflammatory potential of work-air samples (n = 56) in vitro and investigated biomarker expression in exposed workers (n = 69) compared to unexposed controls (n = 25).

Divergent TLR2 and TLR4 Activation by Fungal Spores and Species Diversity in Dust from Waste Sorting Plants.

This manuscript presents the results of an exploratory study on the relationships between NF-κB response through Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation by dust characterized by fungal spore concentrations and species diversity. Personal total dust samples were collected from Norwegian waste sorting plants and then characterized for fungal spores and fungal species diversity, as well as for other bioaerosol components, including endotoxins and actinobacteria. The ability of the dust to induce an NF-κB response by activating TLR2 and TLR4 was evaluated, as well as the relationship between such responses and quantifiable bioaerosol components.

An assessment of occupational exposure to bioaerosols in automated versus manual waste sorting plants.

Occupational exposure during waste sorting is associated with several health outcomes. This study obtained knowledge about the impact of work in fully automated waste sorting plants (AWSP; n = 3) vs manual waste sorting plants (MWSP; n = 3) on personal exposure (n = 71) to bioaerosols and exposure-related health effects. Personal full-shift air samples were collected using various filter-based active sampling devices that were placed in the workers' breathing zone.

Nano- and microplastics: a comprehensive review on their exposure routes, translocation, and fate in humans.

Contamination of the environment with nano-and microplastic particles (NMPs) and its putative adverse effects on organisms, ecosystems, and human health is gaining increasing scientific and public attention. Various studies show that NMPs occur abundantly within the environment, leading to a high likelihood of human exposure to NMPs. Here, different exposure scenarios can occur.

Fungal aerosol composition in moldy basements.

Experimental aerosolization studies revealed that fungal fragments including small fragments in the submicrometer size are released from fungal cultures and have been suggested to represent an important fraction of overall fungal aerosols in indoor environments. However, their prevalence indoors and outdoors remains poorly characterized. Moldy basements were investigated for airborne fungal particles including spores, submicron fragments, and larger fragments.