Seasonal variations in exposure to microbial cell wall components among household waste collectors

Background: Collection, separation, and composting of household waste gener ates organic dusts that may contain the inflammagenic agent endotoxin and ( 1 -->3)-B-D-gluran, a cell wall component of fungi, plants and certain bact eria. In previous studies, waste collectors have reported a greater number of or more severe symptoms in the summer, To further elucidate whether a se asonal variation in exposure could support previous findings of the presenc e of symptoms during summer months, a study was performed to assess exposur es to airborne (1 -->3)-B-D-glucan and endotoxin during different seasons a mong household waste collectors handling compostable waste. Methods: Measurements were made of the amounts of airborne (1 -->3)-B-D-glu can and endotoxin using personal sampler equipment in tyro household waste collectors handling compostable waste. Measurements were made every second week from September 1998 to January 2000, Results: The amounts of airborne endotoxin were low during the study period , The amount of airborne (1 -->3)-B-D-gluran was higher during the warm sea son, and there was a relationship between exposure levels of (1 -->3)-B-D-g lucan and outdoor temperature. Conclusions: The results suggest that household waste collectors: handling compostable waste can be exposed to airborne( 1 -->3)-B-D-glucan, especiall y during the warm season, when more symptoms have been reported among waste collectors, according to previous studies, This cannot be interpreted as a causal relationship as household waste may contain several agents that cou ld cause effects. Further studies are needed to explore such relationships. (C) 2001 British Occupational Hygiene Society. Published by Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.