Exposure levels of dust, endotoxin, and microorganisms in the Danish recycling industry

Recycling of domestic waste and a number of employees in the recycling industry is expected to increase. This study aims to quantify current exposure levels of inhalable dust, endotoxin, and microorganisms and to identify determinants of exposure among recycling workers.

This cross-sectional study included 170 full-shift measurements from 88 production workers and 14 administrative workers from 12 recycling companies in Denmark. The companies recycle domestic waste (sorting, shredding, and extracting materials from waste). We collected inhalable dust with personal samplers that were analysed for endotoxin (n = 170) and microorganisms (n = 101). Exposure levels of inhalable dust, endotoxin, and microorganisms and potential determinants of exposure were explored by mixed-effects models.

The production workers were 7-fold or higher exposed to inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi than the administrative workers. Among production workers recycling domestic waste, the geometric mean exposure level was 0.6 mg/m3 for inhalable dust, 10.7 endotoxin unit (EU)/m3 for endotoxin, 1.6 × 104 colony forming units (CFU)/m³ of bacteria, 4.4 × 104 CFU/m³ of fungi (25 °C), and 1.0 × 103 CFU/m³ of fungi (37 °C). Workers handling paper or cardboard had higher exposure levels than workers handling other waste fractions. The temperature did not affect exposure levels, although there was a tendency toward increased exposure to bacteria and fungi with higher temperatures. For inhalable dust and endotoxin, exposure levels during outdoor work were low compared to indoor work. For bacteria and fungi, indoor ventilation decreased exposure. The work task, waste fraction, temperature, location, mechanical ventilation, and the company size explained around half of the variance of levels of inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi.

The production workers of the Danish recycling industry participating in this study had higher exposure levels of inhalable dust, endotoxin, bacteria, and fungi than the administrative workers. Exposure levels of inhalable dust and endotoxin among recycling workers in Denmark were generally below established or suggested occupational exposure limits (OEL). However, 43% to 58% of the individual measurements of bacteria and fungi were above the suggested OEL. The waste fraction was the most influential determinant for exposure, and the highest exposure levels were seen during handling paper or cardboard. Future studies should examine the relationship between exposure levels and health effects among workers recycling domestic waste.