Bioaerosol generation at large-scale green waste composting plants

The release of microorganisms in the form of bioaerosols has been a focus of study for many years as far as the potential health impacts are concerned. Bioaerosols generated at composting plants are mainly airborne microorganisms and microbial constituents, which are released from the processes where the vigorous movement of material is involved, mainly during fresh waste delivery, shredding, compost pile turning and compost screening. The UK Composting Association, following some research on bioaerosol generation and dispersion, proposed a standard procedure for bioaerosol monitoring at composting facilities that has wide acceptance in the UK. This protocol is based on the monitoring of two airborne microorganisms by impaction at different upwind and downwind locations at composting plants. The aim of the their research study was to monitor the amount of Aspergillus fumigatus and total mesophilic bacteria generated at a typical green waste composting plant over one year of normal operation.