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Estimating Aspergillus fumigatus exposure from outdoor composting activities in England between 2005 and 14

Williams, Ben; Douglas, Philippa; Roca Barcelo, Aina; Hansell, Anna; Hayes, Enda

Estimating Aspergillus fumigatus exposure from outdoor composting activities in England between 2005 and 14 Thumbnail


Authors

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Dr Ben Williams Ben3.Williams@uwe.ac.uk
Senior Research Fellow in Air Quality Management

Philippa Douglas

Aina Roca Barcelo

Anna Hansell

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Enda Hayes Enda.Hayes@uwe.ac.uk
Prof in Air Quality & Carbon Management/School Director (Research & Enterprise)



Abstract

Bioaerosols, ubiquitous in ambient air, are released in elevated concentrations from composting facilities with open-air processing areas. However, spatial and temporal variability of bioaerosols, particularly in relation to meteorology, is not well understood. Here we model relative concentrations of Aspergillus fumigatus at each postcode-weighted centroid within 4 km of 217 composting facilities in England between 2005 and 2014. Facilities were geocoded with the aid of satellite imagery. Data from existing bioaerosol modelling literature were used to build emission profiles in ADMS. Variation in input parameters between each modelled facility was reduced to a minimum. Meteorological data for each composting facility was derived from the nearest SCAIL-Agriculture validated meteorological station. According to our results, modelled exposure risk was driven primarily by wind speed, direction and time-varying emissions factors incorporating seasonal fluctuations in compostable waste. Modelled A.fumigatus concentrations decreased rapidly from the facility boundary and plateaued beyond 1.5–2.0 km. Where multiple composting facilities were within 4 km of each other, complex exposure risk patterns were evident. More long-term bioaerosol monitoring near facilities is needed to help improve exposure estimation and therefore assessment of any health risks to local populations.

Citation

Williams, B., Douglas, P., Roca Barcelo, A., Hansell, A., & Hayes, E. (2019). Estimating Aspergillus fumigatus exposure from outdoor composting activities in England between 2005 and 14. Waste Management, 84, 235-244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.11.044

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 28, 2018
Online Publication Date Dec 7, 2018
Publication Date Feb 1, 2019
Deposit Date Dec 20, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Waste Management
Print ISSN 0956-053X
Electronic ISSN 1879-2456
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 84
Pages 235-244
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.11.044
Keywords bioaerosols, composting, modelling, ADMS, population exposure, Aspergillus fumigatus
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/852741
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.11.044

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