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Annals of Occupational Hygiene Advance Access originally published online on June 16, 2006
Annals of Occupational Hygiene 2006 50(7):731-736; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mel026
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society

Influence of Different Cleaning Practices on Endotoxin Exposure at Sewage Treatment Plants

M. J. VISSER1, S. SPAAN1,*, H. J. J. M. ARTS2, L. A. M. SMIT1 and D. J. J. HEEDERIK1

1 Environmental and Occupational Health Division, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University PO Box 80176, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
2 Arboprofit Voorwillenseweg 18, 2806 ZG Gouda, The Netherlands

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +31-30-253-9474; fax: +31-30-253-9499; e-mail: S.Spaan{at}iras.uu.nl

Exposure to endotoxin at sewage treatment plants is associated with an increased prevalence of work-related symptoms in sewage workers. Since cleaning activities are regarded as an important determinant of endotoxin exposure, workers' endotoxin exposure levels during different cleaning activities were compared in an experimental setting. Variables considered were water used (tap water, surface water or effluent), water pressure (low or high pressure, and a fire hose with the mouth open or obstructed), presence of mechanical ventilation and the distance between the worker and the object to be cleaned (concentration gradient). Experimental cleaning scenarios were defined, during which endotoxin exposure was measured with personal and stationary air sampling. Data were statistically analyzed with mixed effects models. The water used for cleaning appeared to have a large influence on endotoxin exposure, especially the use of effluent, which caused a factor 2.4 increase in exposure. Use of high pressure did not significantly add to the exposure. Use of a fire hose with fully opened mouth (spout opening) led to a 3-fold decrease in exposure when compared with a partially obstructed mouth. The presence of mechanical ventilation decreased endotoxin concentration in a room, provided that the capacity of the ventilation system was sufficient. The worker's distance to the object that was cleaned did not significantly influence exposure.

Keywords: cleaning • effluent • endotoxin • pressure • sewage treatment plant • ventilation • wastewater


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