Volume 8, Issue 3 (September 2023)
J Environ Health Sustain Dev 2023, 8(3): 2039-2049 |
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Alizad Farzin O, Godini H, Noorisepehr M, Mahmoudi E. Assessment of Fungal Aerosols Dispersion from Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Site: A Case Study of Karaj, Iran. J Environ Health Sustain Dev 2023; 8 (3) :2039-2049
URL: http://jehsd.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-621-en.html
URL: http://jehsd.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-621-en.html
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
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Assessment of Fungal Aerosols Dispersion from Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Site: A Case Study of Karaj, Iran
Omid Alizad Farzin 1, Hatam Godini 1,2*, Mohammad Noorisepehr 1,2, Elaheh Mahmoudi 3
1 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
2 Research Center for Health, Safety, and Environment, Alborz University of Medical Science, Karaj, Iran.
3 Department of Mycology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
Omid Alizad Farzin 1, Hatam Godini 1,2*, Mohammad Noorisepehr 1,2, Elaheh Mahmoudi 3
1 Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
2 Research Center for Health, Safety, and Environment, Alborz University of Medical Science, Karaj, Iran.
3 Department of Mycology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
| A R T I C L E I N F O | ABSTRACT | |
| ORIGINAL ARTICLE | Introduction: Fungal aerosols from landfill sites can play a fundamental role in environmental pollution and health. The present study aimed to assess the dispersion of fungal aerosols from municipal solid waste disposal site. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the concentration of fungal aerosols was determined in four geographical directions at distances of 250, 500, 750, and 1000 m around landfill site. Relative humidity and temperature were also measured. Moreover the concentration and type of the fungal taxa isolated from landfill site under different environmental and metrological conditions were evaluated. Results: The results showed that the maximum and minimum concentrations of fungal aerosol in the landfill site were 256.18 ± 59.7 CFU/m3 and 76.56 ± 23.2 CFU/m3, respectively. The most frequent fungi detected from municipal landfill site included Penicillium (43.67%), Cladosporium (33.54%), Yeast (7.60%), Aspergillus (5.91%), Curvularia (3.62%), Chrysosporium (1.57%), Alternaria (1.54%), Scopulariopsis (0.84%), and Ulocladium (0.60%) taxa. The maximum identified fungal aerosol concentration in the area around the solid waste landfill was 350 CFU/m3. Furthermore, the concentration of fungal aerosols in the environment was significantly related to relative humidity, wind direction, and temperature in spring and winter (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Municipal solid waste disposal site can be a potential source for fungal aerosol dispersion. Moreover, fungal aerosols concentration is correlated with wind direction and speed, relative humidity, and temperature. |
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Article History: Received: 12 May 2023 Accepted: 10 July 2023 |
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*Corresponding Author: Hatam Godini Email: Godini_h@yahoo.com Tel: +98 916 3611395 |
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Keywords: Fungi, Aerosols, Solid Waste, Wind, Humidity, Karaj City. |
Citation: Alizad Farzin O, Godini H, Noorisepehr M, et al. Assessment of Fungal Aerosols Dispersion from Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Site: A Case Study of Karaj, Iran. J Environ Health Sustain Dev. 2023; 8(3): 2039-49.
Introduction
Solid waste and related disposal technologies are considered as one of the air contaminant sources1. Inhibiting environmental contamination in landfill and recycling centers is important for preventing airborne diseases 2. Most studies on the health risks related to solid waste landfills have focused on the effects of hazardous chemicals in landfills, but limited research has highlighted bioaerosols 3. Despite the recognition of the health risks associated with bioaerosol exposure, no specific permissible limit is provided for this group of contaminants in the environment, especially in municipal landfill and recycling centers, and the presented levels are as suggestion 4.
The particulate matters (PMs) emitted from solid waste landfill and recycling centers can contain biological and non-biological materials, which can transfer to the areas far from the production site through airflow 3. The emission of fungal aerosols in the environment plays an important role in causing respiratory symptoms, allergic reactions, and respiratory tract infections 5-7. According to Schlosser et al., landfill environment provides an appropriate condition for transmitting biological agents, especially fungi. They found that fungal Aspergillus species possesses maximum risk for residents around the landfills and threatens human health 3. Aerosol emission in landfill and recycling centers is facilitated with various waste management activities such as discharge, transportation, handling, separation, and compaction, as well as final covering of landfill 8.
The dispersion of fungal aerosols leads to respiratory tract and skin diseases, which threatens the health of employees in landfill and recycling centers 9-11. Due to the importance of bioaerosol dispersion in environmental contamination, extensive studies have been recently conducted on their spread from landfill and recycling centers worldwide 3, 5, 12-16. Considering the quality and conditions of solid waste management, different results have been reported. Given that identifying and analyzing the fungal flora of contaminated air in the solid waste processing centers are important, the fungal contamination level and dominant fungi of the sites were determined, and the role of environmental factors in dispersing fungal aerosols was examined. In this study, after identifying common fungal taxa, allergenicity (as allergens and non-allergens) of fungal taxa was classified based on mycological texts.
Materials and Methods
Sampling site
In this study, sampling was performed in 2017 in the municipal landfill and recycling center of Karaj, located in Halghe Dareh in the southwest of Karaj city, Alborz province, Iran. In this regard, 16 stations were assessed in four main directions, so that monitoring was conducted at a 250 m distance from landfill site in each direction and the stations were distanced 250 m apart. The map and sampling locations are displayed in Figure 1. Then, 192 samples were collected and tested from the 16 stations through using an active sampling technique. Sampling was done for six months in winter and spring, and two samples were taken every month with an interval of 15 days.
Solid waste and related disposal technologies are considered as one of the air contaminant sources1. Inhibiting environmental contamination in landfill and recycling centers is important for preventing airborne diseases 2. Most studies on the health risks related to solid waste landfills have focused on the effects of hazardous chemicals in landfills, but limited research has highlighted bioaerosols 3. Despite the recognition of the health risks associated with bioaerosol exposure, no specific permissible limit is provided for this group of contaminants in the environment, especially in municipal landfill and recycling centers, and the presented levels are as suggestion 4.
The particulate matters (PMs) emitted from solid waste landfill and recycling centers can contain biological and non-biological materials, which can transfer to the areas far from the production site through airflow 3. The emission of fungal aerosols in the environment plays an important role in causing respiratory symptoms, allergic reactions, and respiratory tract infections 5-7. According to Schlosser et al., landfill environment provides an appropriate condition for transmitting biological agents, especially fungi. They found that fungal Aspergillus species possesses maximum risk for residents around the landfills and threatens human health 3. Aerosol emission in landfill and recycling centers is facilitated with various waste management activities such as discharge, transportation, handling, separation, and compaction, as well as final covering of landfill 8.
The dispersion of fungal aerosols leads to respiratory tract and skin diseases, which threatens the health of employees in landfill and recycling centers 9-11. Due to the importance of bioaerosol dispersion in environmental contamination, extensive studies have been recently conducted on their spread from landfill and recycling centers worldwide 3, 5, 12-16. Considering the quality and conditions of solid waste management, different results have been reported. Given that identifying and analyzing the fungal flora of contaminated air in the solid waste processing centers are important, the fungal contamination level and dominant fungi of the sites were determined, and the role of environmental factors in dispersing fungal aerosols was examined. In this study, after identifying common fungal taxa, allergenicity (as allergens and non-allergens) of fungal taxa was classified based on mycological texts.
Materials and Methods
Sampling site
In this study, sampling was performed in 2017 in the municipal landfill and recycling center of Karaj, located in Halghe Dareh in the southwest of Karaj city, Alborz province, Iran. In this regard, 16 stations were assessed in four main directions, so that monitoring was conducted at a 250 m distance from landfill site in each direction and the stations were distanced 250 m apart. The map and sampling locations are displayed in Figure 1. Then, 192 samples were collected and tested from the 16 stations through using an active sampling technique. Sampling was done for six months in winter and spring, and two samples were taken every month with an interval of 15 days.
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