Effectiveness of UV-C radiation in inactivation of microorganisms on materials with different surface structures.

Introduction And Objective: Ultraviolet light in the UV-C band is known as germicidal radiation and was widely used for both sterilization of the equipment and creation of a sterile environment. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of inactivation of microorganisms deposited on surfaces with various textures by UV-C radiation disinfection devices.

Material And Methods: Five microorganisms (3 bacteria, virus, and fungus) deposited on metal, plastic, and glass surfaces with smooth and rough textures were irradiated with UV-C light emitted by low-pressure mercury lamp and ultraviolet emitting diodes (LEDs), from a distance of 0.

Production of pro-inflammatory mediators stimulated by exposure of poultry house workers to airborne dust particulates.

Introduction And Objective: Poultry house employees spend a significant part of their work shift being exposed to airborne particulate pollutants. The aim of this study was to assess their exposure at different stages of chicken production cycle, based on quantification of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα) in nasal lavage (NAL) samples.

Material And Methods: The concentrations of airborne dust at 3 different stages of the production cycle (i.

Poultry house as point source of intense bioaerosol emission.

Introduction And Objective: Intensive poultry farming is usually associated with massive exposure to organic dust, which is largely composed of microbiological origin particulates. The aim of the study is to assess occupational and environmental exposures to airborne bacteria, fungi, and Marek's disease virus emitted by a poultry house.

Material And Methods: The concentrations of airborne microorganisms in a poultry house and its vicinity (250-500 m) at 3 different stages of the production cycle (i.

Intensive poultry farming: A review of the impact on the environment and human health.

Poultry farming is one of the most efficient animal husbandry methods and it provides nutritional security to a significant number of the world population. Using modern intensive farming techniques, global production has reached 133.4 mil.

Across-Shift Changes in Viable Nasal Bacteria among Waste-Incineration Plant Workers-A Pilot Study.

The aim of this pilot study was to assess the time-related changes in viable nasal bacteria concentrations among waste-incineration plant (WIP) workers compared to a group of office building (OB) workers outside the plant. In total, 20 volunteers participated in the study, including 14 WIP and 6 OB workers. WIP workers were divided into two sub-groups: supervisory staff (SVS) and maintenance and repair workers (MRW).

Occupational exposure to anaerobic bacteria in a waste sorting plant.

The study focused on exposure assessment to bacterial aerosols and organic dust in waste sorting plant. Samples were collected at different workplaces of waste sorting cycle i.e.

Microbial contamination of money sorting facilities.

Introduction: Money is the most common item with which we have daily contact. Circulated banknotes and coins can become microbiologically contaminated and act as both a source and a means of spreading such pollutants.

Material And Methods: The study was carried out in three money sorting facilities in Poland.

Across-shift changes in upper airways after exposure to bacterial cell wall components.

Introduction: To assess the across-shift changes of cytokine concentrations in nasal lavage (NAL) samples were collected from workers exposed to bacterial cell wall components present in organic dust in three different occupational environments.

Material And Methods: The study was conducted in 38 employees including 10 workers from a municipal waste sorting plant (WSP), 20 from a sewage treatment plant (STP) and 8 from an office building (OB), who were established as a reference group, not exposed to organic dust. Interleukins 1β (IL-1β), 6 (IL-6), 8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were examined in NAL before and after work shift on Wednesdays.

Anaerobic bacteria in wastewater treatment plant.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess exposure to anaerobic bacteria released into air from sewage and sludge at workplaces from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).

Methods: Samples of both sewage and sludge were collected at six sampling points and bioaerosol samples were additionally collected (with the use of a 6-stage Andersen impactor) at ten workplaces covering different stages of the technological process. Qualitative identification of all isolated strains was performed using the biochemical API 20A test.

[Assessment of fungal aerosol exposure at selected workplaces contaminated with organic dust of different origin].

Background: In recent years, the number of people suffering from diseases caused by fungi has been increasing. However, knowledge of the biodiversity of fungal pathogens in the work environment is still insufficient. The aim of this work was to evaluate the exposure to fungi being disseminated in the air of workplaces contaminated with organic dust of plant and animal origin.

Monitoring of bacterial pathogens at workplaces in power plant using biochemical and molecular methods.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to characterize the ways of spreading of the most common bacterial species isolated from workers as well as from the air and raw materials at the workplaces in power plant utilizing biomass sources. To monitor microbial transmission and identify the source of contamination in the working environment, a combination of molecular and biochemical methods was applied.

Methods: The study was carried out at workplaces in power plant utilizes biomass as a main fuel source.

Airborne peptidoglycans as a supporting indicator of bacterial contamination in a metal processing plant.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess exposure to airborne endotoxins and peptidoglycans (PGs) as well as possibility of using PGs as a surrogate measure of bacterial exposure in workplaces in a metal processing plant.

Material And Methods: Personal dosimetry (N = 11) was used to obtain data on concentrations of viable bacteria, total number of bioaerosol particles, endotoxins and peptidoglycans. To investigate the size distributions of aerosol particles responsible for transport of endotoxins and PGs, air samples (N = 5) were additionally collected using the 8-stage cascade impactor.

[Bacterial and fungal aerosols in the work environment of cleaners].

Background: Cleaning services are carried out in almost all sectors and branches of industry. Due to the above, cleaners are exposed to various harmful biological agents, depending on the tasks performed and the commercial sector involved. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure of cleaning workers to biological agents based on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of airborne microflora.

Exposure to culturable and total microbiota in cultural heritage conservation laboratories.

Objectives: To date, the scientific source materials usually focus on microbial contamination of the museum or library collections themselves, while the exposure of persons who professionally deal with this type of objects in cultural heritage conservation laboratories is ignored.

Material And Methods: The study was carried out in 9 naturally ventilated conservation laboratories with no history of water damage. Viable (understood as culturable) bioaerosol stationary samples were collected in both outdoor and indoor environments using 6-stage Andersen impactor.

[Fibers as carriers of microbial particles].

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the ability of natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic fibers to transport microbial particles.

Material And Methods: The simultaneously settled dust and aerosol sampling was carried out in 3 industrial facilities processing natural (cotton, silk, flax, hemp), synthetic (polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, polypropylene) and semi-synthetic (viscose) fibrous materials; 2 stables where horses and sheep were bred; 4 homes where dogs or cats were kept and 1 zoo lion pavilion. All samples were laboratory analyzed for their microbiological purity.

Peptidoglycans in cutting fluids - a good indicator of bacterial contamination?

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the content of peptidoglycans in cutting fluids (CFs) and to assess the possibility of using them as a marker of bacterial contamination in this type of occupational environment.

Materials And Methods: A total of 11 samples of CFs were collected: 8 were taken from the working machine systems and 3 were unused CF samples. The peptidoglycans were determinated with the kinetic version of the Silkworm Larvae Plasma (SLP) test.

Exposure of ventilation system cleaning workers to harmful microbiological agents.

Background: Regular inspection of the cleanliness of the ventilation systems, as well as their periodic cleaning and disinfection, if necessary, are the main factors of the proper maintenance of each system. Performing maintenance operations on the ventilation system, workers are exposed to risk associated with the exposure to harmful biological agents. The aim of this study was to assess the employees' exposure to bioaerosols during maintenance work on ventilation systems.

Occupational exposure to airborne microorganisms, endotoxins and β-glucans in poultry houses at different stages of the production cycle.

The aim of the presented study was to assess the exposure of poultry workers to airborne microorganisms, endotoxins and β-glucans during different stages of the chicken production cycle in 3 commercially-operated poultry houses. Personal and stationary sampling was carried out to assess exposure to both viable and total microbial aerosols. The stationary measurements of PM10 were performed to establish the level of endotoxins and β-glucans.

[Exposure of ventilation system cleaning workers to harmful biological and chemical agents].

Regular checking on the cleanliness of the ventilation systems, as well as their periodic cleaning and, if necessary, disinfection are for the proper maintenance of each system. During maintenance operations (repairs, cleaning, filter replacement), workers are at risks associated with exposure to hazardous chemicals and harmful biological agents. In ventilation systems there are usually favorable conditions for the development of microorganisms, mainly bacteria and fungi, due to surfaces contaminated with dust particles or increased humidity caused by ventilation ducts, air filters, thermal insulation, noise dampers, air coolers, etc.

Exposure to harmful microbiological agents during the handling of biomass for power production purposes.

Background: Despite numerous benefits related to the utilization of biomass as an alternative source of energy, the handling of biomass creates a risk for the power industry workers of exposure to harmful microbiological agents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the exposure of the workers to such agents at a power plant co-firing biomass with coal. This assessment was based on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of bioaerosols, supplemented with the analysis of biomass samples.

Effect of two aerosolization methods on the release of fungal propagules from a contaminated agar surface.

The effect of perpendicular and swirling aerozolization methods on the release of fungal fragments and spores from agar surface was studied. Three fungal species (Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Penicillium chrysogenum) were selected for the tests as they commonly occur indoors, create different hyphae structure when they grow on surfaces, and have different spore shapes, aerodynamic sizes, and formation mechanisms. As the tested surface, Petri dishes filled with malt extract agar, separately inoculated with fungal strains and cultivated to obtain an abundant and even growth were used.

Bioaerosol assessment in naturally ventilated historical library building with restricted personnel access.

The aim of this study was to check the degree and identify the sources of microbial contamination of the Jasna Gora (Bright Hill) monastery library 10 years after disinfection of the incunabula collection. The registered maximum viable indoor microbial concentrations were 1,875 and 7,100 cfu/m³ for stationary and personal measurements, whereas respective total concentrations were 71,000 and 100,000 counts/m3. There was no statistically significant difference between the concentrations of viable microorganisms measured in the stationary using Andersen, GSP, and Button samplers.

Endotoxins and β-glucans as markers of microbiological contamination--characteristics, detection, and environmental exposure.

Endotoxins and β-glucans are one of the major markers of microbiological contamination. As components of biological aerosols, they are ubiquitous in many environments. Numerous studies performed during the last three decades have proved that exposure to endotoxins and β-glucans could be associated with many diseases and/or adverse health outcomes.