[Exposure assessment to harmful agents in workplaces in sewage plant workers].

Background: The purpose of the study was to evaluate exposure to biological and chemical agents in a sewage treatment plant.

Materials And Methods: Sampling was carried out in the summer and wintertime at the morning workshift. Ninety-nine sewage workers taking part in the study were divided into four occupational subgroups: mechanical treatment, biological treatment, sewage sludge treatment, and operation control workers.

Health complaints from workplace exposure to bioaerosols: a questionnaire study in sewage workers.

A questionnaire study was performed in 99 workers at a large sewage treatment plant to investigate self-reported health complaints from workplace exposure to bioaerosols. The study population was divided into subgroups according to different work stations: mechanical treatment (MT), biological treatment (BT), sewage sludge treatment (SST) and operation control (OC). The questionnaire included personal data, workpost and job characteristics, exposure to chemicals, history of employment and exposure, workplace hygiene and protective measures, smoking and drinking habits.

[Harmful agents in municipal wastewater treatment plants].

Chemical and biological hazards and health effects of exposure to some selected agents on the workers of municipal wastewater treatment plants are reported. This issue has not as yet been thoroughly analyzed in Poland. The workers of wastewater treatment plants are exposed to: heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), volatile organic matter, hydrogen sulfide, organic agents, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, organic-produced endotoxins and glucans.

Occupational exposure to organic dust associated with municipal waste collection and management.

The aim of the study was to assess the occupational exposure of workers employed in the municipal waste collection and management industry. Air samples were collected in the workers' breathing zone; two samples were collected parallely. The assessment concerned exposure to organic dust, endotoxins, bacteria and fungi.