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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The maintenance and cleaning of sanitation infrastructures are characterised by workers’ exposure to potentially hazardous biological agents. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate workers' occupational exposure to total mesophilic microorganisms' concentrations at 37ºC, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi in Wastewater Lifting Plants (WLP) and relate them with the critical points associated with the tasks developed in these infrastructures. Samples were collected from the air, hands and nose. Air samples were collected in three different WLP's (A, B and C) in two seasons - winter and spring - at two sampling points, considering infrastructure characteristics. Microbiological analysis of the hands and upper respiratory tract (nose) of the workers was done using the swab technique. The perception of WLP workers about their general state of health was also analysed using Portuguese Version of short form-12 (SF-12) health status questionnaire. The highest concentrations of mesophilic microorganisms at 37° C, Gram-negative bactéria and fungi were, respectively, 1.95x103 CFU/m3, 1.69x103 CFU/m3 and 1.51x103 CFU/m3. In the hands and nose the microorganisms’ concentrations ranged, respectively between 0 to 2x106 CFU/ml and 0 to 2.8x104 CFU/ml. In general, workers classified their health as reasonable. These results demonstrated that measures such as the use of suction pipes with diameters exceeding or construction of vertical slugged reservoirs, as essential for the control of exposure to biological agents. Future research should be developed to improve risk assessment methodologies and air sampling methods in this type of work environment.
Description
Keywords
Biological agents Wastewater Lifting Plants
Citation
Silva, B., Rebelo, A., Oliveira, R., Baptista, J., & Santos, J. (2017). Exposição ocupacional a agentes biológicos na manutenção de infraestruturas de saneamento. Em P. Arezes, J. S. Baptista, M. P. Barroso, P. Carneiro, P. Cordeiro, P. Costa, R. Melo, A. S. Miguel, & G. Perestrelo (Eds.), Occupational Safety and Hygiene SHO2017—Proceedings book (Vol. 1, pp. 166–168). Sociedade Portuguesa de Segurança e Higiene Ocupacionais (SPOSHO).
Publisher
Sociedade Portuguesa de Segurança e Higiene Ocupacionais (SPOSHO)