A new approach to assess fungal burden and mycotoxins occupational exposure in waste trucks workers

Este trabalho foi financiado pelo Concurso Anual para Projetos de Investigação, Desenvolvimento, Inovação e Criação Artística (IDI&CA) 2016 do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Código de referência: IPL/2016/W2E_ESTeSLBackground - Waste application facilities are considered critical regarding occupational exposure to fungal burden since provide optimal conditions for fungal growth (moisture and decaying matter). Aspergillus genera dominance was already reported in Portuguese waste industry. Waste-sorting the most critical setting, presenting not only the highest load but also the wider diversity of Aspergillus sections. It is important to consider the co-occurrence of mycotoxins in this occupational environment. In waste management industry it is common to use forklifts for waste transportation and workers can spend all their working hours in a forklift cab. In cars, the bioburden filtered from the air stream by the automobile air conditioner filter could proliferate under high humidity conditions and, consequently, presenting a potential exposure source to bioaerosols. When the air conditioning system is turned on, the air stream passing through the vehicle filtration system could re-aerosolize the bioburden and subsequently carry them into the vehicle cabinet increasing the exposure.