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

Collection, separation, and composting of household waste generates organic dusts that may contain the inflammagenic agent endotoxin and (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, a cell wall component of fungi, plants and certain bacteria. In previous studies, waste collectors have reported a greater number of or more severe symptoms in the summer. To further elucidate whether a seasonal variation in exposure could support previous findings of the presence of symptoms during summer months, a study was performed to assess exposures to airborne (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan and endotoxin during different seasons among household waste collectors handling compostable waste.

Measurements were made of the amounts of airborne (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan and endotoxin using personal sampler equipment in two household waste collectors handling compostable waste. Measurements were made every second week from September 1998 to January 2000.

The amounts of airborne endotoxin were low during the study period. The amount of airborne (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan was higher during the warm season, and there was a relationship between exposure levels of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan and outdoor temperature.

The results suggest that household waste collectors handling compostable waste can be exposed to airborne (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, especially 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 could cause effects. Further studies are needed to explore such relationships.