Microbiological Contamination at Workplaces in a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Station Processing Plant Biomass

Justyna Szulc, Anna Otlewska, Małgorzata Okrasa, Katarzyna Majchrzycka, Michael Sulyok and Beata Gutarowska
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Justyna Szulc: Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź 90-924, Poland
Anna Otlewska: Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź 90-924, Poland
Małgorzata Okrasa: Department of Personal Protective Equipment, Central Institute for Labour Protection, National Research Institute, Łódź 90-133, Poland
Katarzyna Majchrzycka: Department of Personal Protective Equipment, Central Institute for Labour Protection, National Research Institute, Łódź 90-133, Poland
Michael Sulyok: Center for Analytical Chemistry, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Str. 20, Tulln, Vienna (BOKU) 3430, Austria
Beata Gutarowska: Institute of Fermentation Technology and Microbiology, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź 90-924, Poland

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the microbial contamination at a plant biomass processing thermal power station (CHP). We found 2.42 × 10 3 CFU/m 3 of bacteria and 1.37 × 10 4 CFU/m 3 of fungi in the air; 2.30 × 10 7 CFU/g of bacteria and 4.46 × 10 5 CFU/g of fungi in the biomass; and 1.61 × 10 2 CFU/cm 2 bacteria and 2.39 × 10 1 CFU/cm 2 fungi in filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). Using culture methods, we found 8 genera of mesophilic bacteria and 7 of fungi in the air; 10 genera each of bacteria and fungi in the biomass; and 2 and 5, respectively, on the FFRs. Metagenomic analysis (Illumina MiSeq) revealed the presence of 46 bacterial and 5 fungal genera on the FFRs, including potential pathogens Candida tropicalis , Escherichia coli , Prevotella sp., Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp.). The ability of microorganisms to create a biofilm on the FFRs was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We also identified secondary metabolites in the biomass and FFRs, including fumigaclavines, quinocitrinines, sterigmatocistin, and 3-nitropropionic acid, which may be toxic to humans. Due to the presence of potential pathogens and mycotoxins, the level of microbiological contamination at workplaces in CHPs should be monitored.

Keywords: plant biomass; workplace bioaerosols; harmful biological agents; filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs); airborne dust (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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