Experimental generation of organic dust from compostable household waste

Abstract

The objective was to assess the influence of different waste storage systems on the emission of bioaerosols and gases from compostable household waste. Batches of waste were stored for 14 days in different storage systems: ventilated containers (compostainers) with or without added structure material and closed containers with or without a preservation additive. The microbial potential of the waste was measured with a rotating drum after storage. The weight loss in the compostainers (39%) was higher than in the closed containers (9%). Hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans developed in the closed container, and the concentration of ammonia increased continuously in both systems to 140 ppm. The microbial content for the incubated waste was high for closed containers compared to compostainers, and waste in closed containers generated a liquid rich in endotoxin and bacteria. The aerosols emitted from the waste consisted mainly of fungal spores, especially Aspergillus fumigatus, and no significant differences were observed between the systems. The endotoxin potential was high for waste stored in closed containers. The use of a preservative prevented microbial growth and reduced the emission of bioaerosols and gases substantially.

Keywords

compostable waste bioaerosol fungi bacteria endotoxin dustiness weight loss temperature rotating drum tester

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

BOHS, British Occupational Hygiene Society (1985) Dustiness estimation methods for dry materials. Technical Guide No. 4. Leeds, UK: Science Reviews Ltd.

Breum, N. O. , Nielsen, B. H. , Wilkins, C. K. , Poulsen, O. M. & Midtgård, U. (1996) Betydning av affaldets alder og opbervaringsbetingelser for eksponering for luftforurening. Report No. 8. Copenhagen, Denmark: National Institute of Occupational Health.

Breum, N. O , Nielsen, B. H. , Nielsen, E. M. , Midtgård, U. & Poulsen, O. M. (1997) Dustiness of compostable waste: A methodological approach to quantify the potential of waste to generate airborne micro-organisms and endotoxin. Waste Management & Research 15, 169-187.

Breum, N. O. , Nielsen, B. H. , Lyngbye, M. and Midtgård, U. (1999) Dustiness of chopped straw as affected by Lignosulfonate as a dust suppressant. Ann. Agric. Environ. Med. 6, 1-8.

Cox, C. S. (1987) The Aerobiological Pathway of Micro-organisms. New York, US: John Wiley & Sons.

Eduard, W. , Lacey, J. , Karlson, K. , Palmgren, U. , Ström, G. & Blomquist, G. (1990) Evaluation of methods for enumerating micro-organisms i n filter samples from highly contaminated occupational environments. Am. ind. Hyg. Ass. Journal. 51, 427-436.

Eduard, W. (1997) Exposure to non-infectious micro-organisms and endotoxins in agriculture. Ann. Agric. Environ. Med. 4, 179-186.

Griffiths, W. D. and DeCosemo, G. A. L. (1994) The assessment of bioaerosols: A critical review. J. Aerosol. Sci. 25(8), 1425-1458.

Heldal, K. , Skogstad, A. and Eduard, W. (1996) Improvements in the quantification of airborne micro-organisms in the farm environment by epifluorescence microscopy. Ann. Occup. Hyg. 40(4), 437-447.

10.

Heldal, K. , Eduard, W. and Bergum, M. (1997) Bioaerosol exposure during handling of source separated household waste. Ann. Agric. Environ. Med. 4, 45-51.

11.

Helander, I. , Saxén, H. , Salkinoja-Salonen, M. and Rylander, R. (1982) Pumonary toxicity of endotoxins: Comparison of lipopolysaccharides from Various bacterial species. Infection and Immunity 35(2), 528-532.

12.

Ivens, U. , Breum, N. O. , Ebbehøj, N. , Nielsen, B. H. , Poulsen, O. M. and Würtz, H. (1999) Exposure-response relationship between gastrointestinal problems among waste collectors and bioaerosol exposure. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 25(3), 238-245.

13.

Kamiya, A. and Ose, Y. (1984) Study of odorous compounds produced by putrefaction of foods. Fatty acids, sulfur compounds and amines. Journal of Chromatography, 292 383-391.

14.

Kotimaa, M. K. , Oksanen, L. and Koskela, Å . (1991) Feeding and bedding materials as sources of microbial exposure on dairy farms. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 17, 117-122.

15.

Lacey, J. & Lacey, M.E. (1964) Spore concentration in the air of farm buildings. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 47, 547-552.

16.

Lyons, C. P. & Mark, D. (1994) Development and testing of a procedure to evaluate the dustiness of powders and dusts in industrial use. Health and Safety Executive, Report No. 62/1994, Bootle, UK: Contract Research.

17.

Mortensen, B. & Domela, H. (1995) Bates Combi System - A new Danish waste collection system. Proceeding, Biowaste ‘95, 2nd International Conference and Exhibition Forum on Biological Waste Treatment, 21-24, Aalborg, Denmark.

18.

Nielsen, E. M. , Nielsen, B. H. & Breum, O. N. (1995) Occupational bioaerosol exposure during collection of household waste. Ann. Agric. Environ. Med. 2, 53-59.

19.

Nielsen, B. H. , Würtz, H. , Breum, N. O. & Poulsen, O. M. (1998) Micro-organisms and endotoxin in experimentally generated bioaerosols from composting household waste. Ann. Agric. Environ. Med. 4, 159-168.

20.

Nielsen, B. H. (1998) Mikro-organismer i bioaffald, arbejdsmiljømæssige aspekter ved håndtering av «grønt» husholdningsaffald og kompost. Ph.D. thesis. Report No. 16 Copenhagen, Denmark: National Institute of Occupational Health.

21.

Palme, U. & Smedlund, L, (1995) Källsortering av komposterbart material-olika hanteringslinjer (Sweden: Odsmål; Smedlund Miljösystem.

22.

Poulsen, O. M. , Breum, N. O. , Ebbehøj, N. , Hansen, Å. M. , Ivens, U. I. , van Lelieveld, D. , Malmros, P. , Mathiassen, L. , Nielsen, B. H. , Schibye, B. , Stenbæk, E. and Wilkins, K. C. (1995) Collection of household waste: review of occupational health problems and their possible causes. Sci.Total Environment 170, 1-19.

23.

Thompson, M. W. , Donnelly, J. , Grinshpun, S. A. , Juozaitis, A. and Willeke, K. (1994) Method and test system for evaluating of bioaerosol samplers. J. Aerosol Sci 25, 1579-1593.

24.

Vincent, J. H. (1987) Recent advances in aspiration theory for thin walled and blunt aerosol samling probes. J. Aerosol Sci. 18, 487-498.