[Health risk to workers in recycling plants and on waste disposal sites]

Two groups of workers in garbage sorting plants and waste landfills and a control group of community employees were physically examined. In garbage sorting plants elevated microbial counts were measured in the air of the workplace compared to outdoor air microbial counts (cfu/m3). Workers in garbage treatment plants were higher exposed to airborne microbial agents. In consequence immunological reactions and the occurrence of workplace related symptoms were found more frequently, These symptoms are described in literature as mucous membrane irritation syndrome (MMI). More infectious diseases were seen in workers in garbage treatment plants than in the control group. As significant more health problems were seen in groups exposed to very high concentrations of microbial agents in the air at the workplace (moulds more than 10(5) cfu/m3, bacteria more than 10(4) cfu/m3), this study supports the recommendations in the LASI-guidelines 1, 13 and 15 and the TRGS 540 to reduce the microbial load in the air at the workplace.