Assessment of indoor airborne contamination in a wastewater treatment plant

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Juliana V. Teixeira (Author) Other; Sandra Miranda (Author) Other; Ricardo A. R. Monteiro (Author) Other; Filipe V. S. Lopes (Author) FEUP; Joana Madureira (Author) Other; Gabriela V. Silva (Author) FCUP; Nazaré Pestana (Author) Other; Eugénia Pinto (Author) FFUP; Vítor J. P. Vilar (Author) FEUP; Rui A. R. Boaventura (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

Vol. 185 No. 1

Pages: 59-72

ISSN: 0167-6369

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 30 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 36 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

CORDIS: Technological sciences

Associated Projects

LA 20 - Projeto Estratégico-LA 20 - 2011-2012

AIRPHOTOXI - AIRPHOTOXI-DESTOXIFICAÇÃO SOLAR DE AR INTERIOR: BIOAEROSSÓIS E COVs

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-1Z2

DOI: 10.1007/s10661-012-2533-0

Abstract (EN): The main objective of this work was to quantify and characterize the major indoor air contaminants present in different stages of a municipal WWTP, including microorganisms (bacteria and fungi), carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide ammonia, formaldehyde, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In general, the total bacteria concentration was found to vary from 60 to > 52,560 colony-forming units (CFU)/m(3), and the total fungi concentration ranged from 369 to 14,068 CFU/m(3). Generally, Gram-positive bacteria were observed in higher number than Gram-negative bacteria. CO2 concentration ranged from 251 to 9,710 ppm, and CO concentration was either not detected or presented a level of 1 ppm. H2S concentration ranged from 0.1 to 6.0 ppm. NH3 concentration was < 2 ppm in most samples. Formaldehyde was < 0.01 ppm at all sampling sites. The total VOC concentration ranged from 36 to 1,724 mu g/m(3). Among the VOCs, toluene presented the highest concentration. Results point to indoor/outdoor ratios higher than one. In general, the highest levels of airborne contaminants were detected at the primary treatment (SEDIPAC 3D), secondary sedimentation, and sludge dehydration. At most sampling sites, the concentrations of airborne contaminants were below the occupational exposure limits (OELs) for all the campaigns. However, a few contaminants were above OELs in some sampling sites.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14