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Exposure to Airborne Noroviruses and Other Bioaerosol Components at a Wastewater Treatment Plant in Denmark

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Abstract

Exposure to bioaerosols associated with wastewater treatment processes may represent an occupational health risk for workers at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A high frequency of acute symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract among the wastewater workers at a Danish WWTP has been reported. The objective of the study was therefore to examine the exposure of the workers to aerosolised microorganisms. Sampling of inhalable endotoxin, bacteria, moulds and viruses was performed on one occasion using personal samplers. Noroviruses (NoVs) and endotoxin were detected at concentrations that could pose an occupational health risk and possibly contribute to the increased frequency of gastrointestinal illness among the workers and should therefore be investigated further. In addition, positive correlations between exposure to endotoxin, bacteria, moulds and NoVs were found and indicate that the exposure to bioaerosols may be related to work tasks. This is the first study directly showing an occupational exposure to airborne NoVs by its detection in airborne dust.

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Acknowledgments

The work was partially supported by grant NKJ-130 from the Nordic Joint Committee for Agricultural Research. We highly acknowledged Thora Brendstrup and Birgitte Zwicky-Hauschild at Occupational Health Consultancy, City of Copenhagen, as well as Albert Dam for initiating this study. We thank Margit W. Frederiksen for skilful technical assistance and the WWTP workers for their participation in the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Microbiology and Risk Assessment, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DTU, Mørkhøj Bygade 19, 2860, Søborg, Denmark

    Katrine Uhrbrand & Anna Charlotte Schultz

  2. National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    Anne Mette Madsen

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  1. Katrine Uhrbrand
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  2. Anna Charlotte Schultz
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  3. Anne Mette Madsen
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Correspondence to Katrine Uhrbrand.

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Uhrbrand, K., Schultz, A.C. & Madsen, A.M. Exposure to Airborne Noroviruses and Other Bioaerosol Components at a Wastewater Treatment Plant in Denmark. Food Environ Virol 3, 130–137 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12560-011-9068-3

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