Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A case study of airborne culturable microorganisms in a poultry slaughterhouse in Styria, Austria

  • Published:
Aerobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

According to Council Directive 90/679/EEC on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work, nature, degree and duration of workers’ exposure to microorganisms must be determined. This directive has already been implemented in waste and wastewater management. The present case study investigates concentration and composition of microorganisms in a poultry slaughterhouse in the State of Styria, Austria. From June to November 2002, measurements were conducted at the sampling sites ‘moving rail’ and ‘gall bladder separation’ using the Andersen six stage viable cascade impactor and the SKC BioSampler. The results of this study were compared with other previous studies which were carried out using the same device (ACFM) and the same measurement methods. At the processing area of the ‘moving rail’, the median concentration of airborne mesophilic bacteria was 1.7×106 CFU/m3 which is 8000 times higher than the background concentration of residential areas (approx. 210 CFU/m3). The airborne microorganisms concentration was 1.7×104 CFU/m3 at composting plants which is 100 times lower than at a workplace of a poultry slaughterhouse. The study shows that poultry slaughterhouse employees are exposed to high concentrations of airborne microorganisms throughout the entire work time without using a respiratory protective device. For the protection of employees against airborne biological agents, relevant measures should be introduced to this field of work.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersen A.A. (1958). New sampler for the collection, sizing and enumeration of viable airborne particles. J. Bacteriol. 76:471–484

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett H.L., Hunter B.B. (1987). Illustrated genera of imperfect fungi. Fourth edition. Macmillan Publishing Company New York, Collier Macmillan Publishers London

    Google Scholar 

  • Berghold Ch. and Kornschober Ch.: 2004, Nationale Referenzzentrale für Salmonellen, Jahresbericht 2003. Mitteilungen der Sanitätsverwaltung, 4/2004, 8–13

  • Council Directive: Richtlinie zum Schutz der Arbeitnehmer gegen Gefährdung durch biologische Arbeitsstoffe bei der Arbeit. Richtlinie 90/679/EWG

  • De Hoog G.S. and Guarro J.: 1995, Atlas of Clinical Fungi. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures Baarn, Delft and Universitat Rovira i Virgili Reus; Spain

  • Directive on biological agents: Verordnung biologische Arbeitsstoffe (VbA) BGBL II Nr. 237/1998

  • Domsch K.H., Gams W. and Anderson T.H.: 1993, Compendium of Soil Fungi. Vol. I und Vol. II, IHW-Verlag Reprint

  • Hagmar L., Schütz A., Hallberg T., Sjöholm A. (1990). Health effects of exposure to endotoxins and organic dust in poultry slaughterhouse workers. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health. 62:159–164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hagmar L., Schütz A., Hallberg T., Sjöholm A. (1990). Over-shift decrease in lung function in poultry slaughterhouse workers. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 17: 77–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartung J. (1998). Art und Umfang der von Nutztierställen ausgehenden Luftverunreinigungen. Dtsch. Tierärztl. Wschr. 105:213–216

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang M.N., Ederer G.M.:(1975). Rapid hippurate hydrolysis method for presumptive identification of group B streptococci J. Clin. Microbiol. 1:114–115

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hygiene Regulation: Geflügelhygieneverordnung 2000 (GHV) BGBL. Nr. 243/2000 Teil II i.d.g.F

  • Keener K.M., Bashor M.P., Curtis P.A., Sheldon B.W. and Kathariou S.: 2004, Comprehensive Review of Campylobacter and Poultry Processing. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Vol. 3, pp. 105–113

  • Kempf A.: 1995, Untersuchungen über thermophile Actinomyceten: Taxonomie, Ökologie und Abbau von Biopolymeren. Dissertation, Fachbereich Biologie der Technischen Hochschule Darmstadt

  • Konkel M.E., Gray S.A., Kim B.J., Gravis S.G., Yoon J. (1999). Identification of the Enteropathogens Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli based on the cadF Virulence Gene and its Product. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 37(3): 510–517

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kotula A.W., Kinner J.A. (1964). Airborne microorganisms in broiler processing plants. Applied Microbiology. 12:179–184

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lenhart S.W., Olenchock S.A., Cole E.C. (1982). Viable Sampling for airborne bacteria in a poultry processing plant. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. 10:613–619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lutgring K.R., Linton R.H., Zimmerman N.J., Peugh M., Heber A.J. (1997). Distribution and quantification of bioaerosols in poultry slaughtering plants. Journal of Food Protection. 60(7):804–810

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen B. (1995). Exposure to air contaminants in chicken catching. Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. Journal. 56:804–808

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oosterom J., Nottermans S., Karman H., Engels G.B. (1983). Origin and prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni in poultry processing. J. Food Protection. 46:339–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Perfetti L., Cartier A., Malo J.L. (1997). Occupational asthma in poultry-slaughterhouse workers. Allergy. 52:594–595

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pless P., Ursinitsch B. and Köfer J.: 2002, Prävalenz und Resistenzverhalten von Campylobacter spp. in steirischen Nutztierbeständen. Tagungsband der ÖGHMP. 7–10 Mai 2002, Meran

  • Rahkio T.M., Korkeala H.J. (1997). Airborne Bacteria and Carcass Contamination in Slaughterhouses. Journal of Food Protection. 60(1): 38–42

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reinthaler F.F., Haas D.U., Feierl G., Schlacher R., Pichler-Semmelrock F.P., Köck M., Wüst G., Feenstra O., Marth E. (1999). Comparative investigations of airborne culturable microorganisms in selected waste treatment facilities and in neighbouring areas. Zbl. Hyg. Umweltmed. 202: 1–17

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samson R.A., Hoekstra E.S., Frisvad J.C., Filtenborg O. (1996). Introduction to food-borne fungi. Fifth edition. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures Baarn Delft. Printed by Ponsen & Looyen, Wageningen The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • VITEK-Automicrobic System AMS, bioMerieux VITEK, Inc. Manual 510558-4 (REV 0686) (1986)

  • Whyte P., Collins J.D., McGill K., Monahan C., O’Mahony H. (2001). Distribution and prevalence of airborne microorganisms in three commercial poultry processing plants. Journal of Food Protection. 64: 388–391

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wüst G., Reinthaler F.F., Haas D.U. and Marth E.: 1999, Vergleichende Untersuchungen luftgetragener, kultivierbarer Mikroorganismen an ausgewählten Standorten in der Abfallwirtschaft, der Nutztierhaltung und im Anwohnerbereich. In: Schriftenreihe des Vereins für Wasser-, Boden- und Lufthygiene: Stand von Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technik zu siedlungshygienischen Aspekten der Abfallentsorgung und -verwertung, Hrsg.: Th. Eikmann und R. Hofmann, Tagung 30. August bis 1. September 1999. Langen, Band 30, 703–711

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Hygiene, Medical University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 4, A-8010, Graz, Austria

    Doris Haas, Josefa Posch, Susanne Schmidt, Gilda Wüst, Wolf Sixl, Gebhard Feierl, Egon Marth & Franz Ferdinand Reinthaler

Authors
  1. Doris Haas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Josefa Posch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Susanne Schmidt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gilda Wüst
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wolf Sixl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Gebhard Feierl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Egon Marth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Franz Ferdinand Reinthaler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Doris Haas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Haas, D., Posch, J., Schmidt, S. et al. A case study of airborne culturable microorganisms in a poultry slaughterhouse in Styria, Austria. Aerobiologia 21, 193–201 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-005-9003-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-005-9003-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation