Cytotoxicity of contaminated protection devices used in waste sorting industry

Project "Waste Workers’ Exposure to Bioburden through Filtering Respiratory Protective Devices” (IPL/2018/WasteFRPD_ESTeSL).FCT_UIDB/05608/2020. FCT_UIDP/05608/2020.Waste sorting is one of the most critical working environments since waste is frequently contaminated by organic matter that functions as a nutrient substrate for microorganisms. In many occupational environments in the waste industry, workers are exposed for long periods to high concentrations of microbial contamination. Several studies have lately stressed health risks related to those environments. Due to the recognized increased risk of microbiologic agents’ exposure and the need of the employer to protect workers from the exposure risks, the use of Filtering Respiratory Protective Devices (FRPD) and Mechanic Protection Gloves (MPG) is mandatory in the Portuguese waste industry. This study evaluates the cytotoxicity of contaminants present in protection devices used at work in a waste sorting industry.