A Controlled Study on the Characterisation of Bioaerosols Emissions from Compost
Zaheer Ahmad Nasir,
Catherine Rolph,
Samuel Collins,
David Stevenson,
Toni L. Gladding,
Enda Hayes,
Ben Williams,
Shagun Khera,
Simon Jackson,
Allan Bennett,
Simon Parks,
Robert P. Kinnersley,
Kerry Walsh,
Simon J. T. Pollard,
Gillian Drew,
Sonia Garcia Alcega,
Frederic Coulon,
Sean Tyrrel
Affiliations
Zaheer Ahmad Nasir
School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
Catherine Rolph
STEM Faculty, Open University, Walton Hall MK6 7AA, UK
Samuel Collins
Public Health England, Chemical and Environmental Effects Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Oxfordshire OX11 0RQ, UK
David Stevenson
Biosafety, Air and Water Microbiology Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
Toni L. Gladding
STEM Faculty, Open University, Walton Hall MK6 7AA, UK
Enda Hayes
Air Quality Management Resource Centre, Faculty of Environment and Technology, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Ben Williams
Air Quality Management Resource Centre, Faculty of Environment and Technology, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Shagun Khera
School of Biomedical and Healthcare Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Simon Jackson
School of Biomedical and Healthcare Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Allan Bennett
Biosafety, Air and Water Microbiology Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
Simon Parks
Biosafety, Air and Water Microbiology Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK
Robert P. Kinnersley
Environment Agency, Research, Assessment and Evaluation, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH, UK
Kerry Walsh
Environment Agency, Research, Assessment and Evaluation, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH, UK
Simon J. T. Pollard
School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
Gillian Drew
School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
Sonia Garcia Alcega
School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
Frederic Coulon
School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
Sean Tyrrel
School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
Bioaerosol emissions arising from biowaste treatment are an issue of public concern. To better characterise the bioaerosols, and to assess a range of measurement methods, we aerosolised green waste compost under controlled conditions. Viable and non-viable Andersen samplers, cyclone samplers and a real time bioaerosol detection system (Spectral Intensity Bioaerosol Sensor (SIBS)) were deployed simultaneously. The number-weighted fraction of fluorescent particles was in the range 22–26% of all particles for low and high emission scenarios. Overall fluorescence spectral profiles seen by the SIBS exhibited several peaks across the 16 wavelength bands from 298 to 735 nm. The size-fractionated endotoxin profile showed most endotoxin resided in the 2.1–9 μm aerodynamic diameter fraction, though up to 27% was found in a finer size fraction. A range of microorganisms were detected through culture, Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption and Ionisation Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), including Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. These findings contribute to our knowledge of the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of bioaerosols from composting sites, as well as informing future monitoring approaches and data interpretation for bioaerosol measurement.
