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Waste Management & Research, Vol. 19, No. 2, 98-107 (2001)

Experimental generation of organic dust from compostable household waste

Kari Kulvik Heldal

National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway

Niels O. Breum

National Institute of Occupational Health, Lersø Parkallé Copenhagen, Denmark

Brigitte H. Nielsen

National Institute of Occupational Health, Lersø Parkallé Copenhagen, Denmark

Ken Wilkins

National Institute of Occupational Health, Lersø Parkallé Copenhagen, Denmark

The objective was to assess the influence of different waste storage systems on the emission of bioaerosols and gases from compostable household waste. Batches of waste were stored for 14 days in different storage systems: ventilated containers (compostainers) with or without added structure material and closed containers with or without a preservation additive. The microbial potential of the waste was measured with a rotating drum after storage. The weight loss in the compostainers (39%) was higher than in the closed containers (9%). Hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans developed in the closed container, and the concentration of ammonia increased continuously in both systems to 140 ppm. The microbial content for the incubated waste was high for closed containers compared to compostainers, and waste in closed containers generated a liquid rich in endotoxin and bacteria. The aerosols emitted from the waste consisted mainly of fungal spores, especially Aspergillus fumigatus, and no significant differences were observed between the systems. The endotoxin potential was high for waste stored in closed containers. The use of a preservative prevented microbial growth and reduced the emission of bioaerosols and gases substantially.

Key Words: compostable waste; bioaerosol; fungi; bacteria; endotoxin; dustiness; weight loss; temperature; rotating drum tester


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