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Characteristics and health effects of potentially pathogenic bacterial aerosols from a municipal solid waste landfill site in Hamadan, Iran

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential pathogenic bacterial aerosols produced from the municipal solid waste landfill site and its health risk assessment in the Hamadan city at west of Iran. In this study, air samples were collected every month during spring and summer at six locations including the active zone, leachate collection pond, infectious waste landfill, upwind, closure landfill, and downwind using the Andersen impactor. Spatial and seasonal variations of the potential pathogenic bacterial aerosols were detected. Also, Health risk associated were estimated based on the average daily dose rates (ADD) of exposure by inhalation. The mean concentration of potentially pathogenic bacterial aerosols were 468.7 ± 140 CFU m− 3 1108.5 ± 136.9 CFU m− 3 detected in the active zone in spring and summer, respectively. Also, there was a significant relationship between meteorological parameters and bacterial concentration (p < 0.05). The predominant potential pathogenic bacterial identified in the spring were Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus sp., and Pseudomonas sp., while in summer were Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. The hazard quotient (HQ) in both seasons were less of 1. Bacteria were spread throughout the landfill space, but their maximum density was observed around the active zone and leachate collection pond. This study highlights the importance of exposure to potential pathogenic bacterial aerosols in the summer and its adverse effects, especially in the MSW landfill site active zone. Finally, controlled exposure can reduce the health hazard caused by the potential pathogenic bacterial aerosols.

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Acknowledgements

This study was a Ph.D. thesis in Environmental health engineering and was conducted with the approval of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Medical Ethics Committee: Code: IR.UMSHA.REC.1398.512. Thanks are owed to the Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, for their help in conducting this study.

Funding

The present study was supported by the Hamadan University of Medical Sciences under Grant [9807235430] and Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Institute for Environmental Research) under Grant [48964].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Mohammad Taghi Samadi, Mostafa Leili & Ashraf Mazaheri Tehrani

  2. Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Hossein Mahvi

  3. Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Hossein Mahvi

  4. Center of Excellence for Occupational Health, Occupational Health and Safety Research Center, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Abdulrahman Bahrami

  5. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Jalal Poorolajal

  6. Modeling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Jalal Poorolajal

  7. Department of Plant Protection, Buali University, Hamadan, Iran

    Doustmorad Zafari

  8. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Fahmideh St, Hamadan, 6517838736, Iran

    Ashraf Mazaheri Tehrani

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  1. Mohammad Taghi Samadi
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Correspondence to Ashraf Mazaheri Tehrani.

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Samadi, M.T., Mahvi, A.H., Leili, M. et al. Characteristics and health effects of potentially pathogenic bacterial aerosols from a municipal solid waste landfill site in Hamadan, Iran. J Environ Health Sci Engineer 19, 1057–1067 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40201-021-00672-3

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