Mechanic protection gloves used in waste sorting industry: suitable as passive method to sample for fungal burden

• Main Author: Viegas, Carla
• Publication Date: 2021
• Other Authors: Dias, Marta, Almeida, Beatriz, Gomes, Anita Q., Twarużek, Magdalena, Kosicki, Robert, Grajewski, Jan, Viegas, Susana
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/13411
• topic: Occupational health; Occupational exposure; Waste sorting industry; Mechanical protection gloves; Fungal burden; Project IPL/2018/WasteFRPD_ESTeSL; Project FCT_UIDB/05608/2020; Project FCT_UIDP/05608/2020

Background: The high prevalence of airborne bacterial and fungal species in forklift cabinets from waste sorting units has already been described. Aspergillus spp. species are filamentous fungi commonly found in different environmental compartments, where they thrive as saprophytes. Several sections are reported as being mycotoxins producers. In Portuguese waste industries, personal protective equipment, such as mechanical protection gloves (MPG) are of mandatory use. During their use, sweat is released, and consequently, the material humidity and temperature inside the glove increase leading to favorable conditions for the microorganism’s growth. This study intends to assess the fungal and mycotoxins contamination present in MPG as a potential passive sampling method to assess occupational exposure.