Study of Bioaerosol Characteristics in Wood Processing Workplaces

• Main Authors: Kai-Ling Huang, 黃凱鈴
• Other Authors: 賴全裕
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/76136984426404223678

碩士 === 中山醫學大學 === 職業安全衛生學系碩士班 === 101 === From literature review, wood processing workers were found to expose to occupational hazards and induced to have occupational asthma. The occupational hazards, for instance, include the wood dust, aflatoxin comes from Aspergillus, or endotoxin comes from Gram-negative bacteria. For the reason, the study investigated the biological exposures in wood processing workplaces. An Andersen 6 stage bioaerosol sampler, Biosampler, AGI-30, and SKC Aluminum cyclone with polycarbonate （PC） filter were used to sample bioaerosols . In the study, SKC Aluminum cyclone was used to collect respirable sawmill wood dust. The results show: most of all, the sampled concentration during work was higher than before work.. Moreover, based on the identification, the Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp, Trichoderma spp.and Paecilomyces spp. were the dominant fungi; on the other hand, Bacillus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were the dominant bacteria. In addition, the highest concentration of contained endotoxin was found in cultured Pantoea agglomerans, and was about 0.8053 EU/m3. In contrast, range of endotoxin concentration sampled by using SKC Aluminum cyclone with PC filter was about 2.1639*10-6~5.1850*10-6 EU/m3. Mycotoxin from sawmill desorption solution contained Aflatoxin B1, Fumonisins and Zearalenone. The Aflatoxin B1 had the highest concentration, and the range was 97.2~510.4 ng/g （sawmill）. The bacterial identification results showed Bacillus spp. (GPB) was the dominant bacteria. The total bacterial and fungal concentrations during work (or in cutting area) were higher than before work (or in timber stacking area). This phenomenon could be concluded by the wood dust suspension during cutting. The concentration of Gram-negative bacteria appeared statistically associated with the ambient temperature and humidity. In the classification of biological safety, the bacteria bioaerosol was found 51.7% in risk group 2, and was 75.0% in fungal bioaerosol. The concentration of endotoxin measured in the study did not exceed the DECOS health exposure recommendation 50 EU/m3 criteria. The bioaerosol samplers for the Gram-positive bacteria concentrations was statistically significant (P = 0.0002). Moreover, temperature and humidity for the Gram-negative bacteria was statistically significant (P<0.05). At present, Taiwan have no complete specification for content restrictions and exposure limit in respirable wood dust, endotoxin and mycotoxinin in workplace environment, the study recommended the related regulations should be established to prevent the increase of the disease in the future.