Assessment of airborne virus contamination in wastewater treatment plants

INTRODUCTION: Occupational exposure to bioaerosols in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and its consequence on workers׳ health are well documented. Most studies were devoted to enumerating and identifying cultivable bacteria and fungi, as well as measuring concentrations of airborne endotoxins, as these are the main health-related factors found in WWTP. Surprisingly, very few studies have investigated the presence and concentrations of airborne virus in WWTP. However, many enteric viruses are present in wastewater and, due to their small size, they should become aerosolized. Two in particular, the norovirus and the adenovirus, are extremely widespread and are the major causes of infectious gastrointestinal diseases reported around the world. The third one, hepatitis E virus, has an emerging status. GOAL AND METHODS: This study׳s objectives were to detect and quantify the presence and concentrations of 3 different viruses (adenovirus, norovirus and the hepatitis E virus) in air samples from 31 WWTPs by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) during two different seasons and two consecutive years. RESULTS: Adenovirus was present in 100% of summer WWTP samples and 97% of winter samples. The highest airborne concentration measured was 2.27×10(6) genome equivalent/m(3) and, on average, these were higher in summer than in winter. Norovirus was detected in only 3 of the 123 air samples, and the hepatitis E virus was not detected. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of potentially pathogenic viral particles in WWTP air are non-negligible and could partly explain the work-related gastrointestinal symptoms often reported in employees in this sector.

Audit report on the Perry Municipal Waterworks, Perry, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2011

Audit report on the Perry Municipal Waterworks, Perry, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2011

Report on applying agreed-upon procedures to the Villisca Municipal Power Plant’s accounting procedures, cash and investment balances and compliance with Code of Iowa requirements for the period February 1, 2007 through December 31, 2010

Report on applying agreed-upon procedures to the Villisca Municipal Power Plant’s accounting procedures, cash and investment balances and compliance with Code of Iowa requirements for the period February 1, 2007 through December 31, 2010

Report on a special investigation of the New Hampton Municipal Light Plant for the period January 1, 2001 through May 31, 2012

Report on a special investigation of the New Hampton Municipal Light Plant for the period January 1, 2001 through May 31, 2012

Audit report on the Perry Municipal Waterworks, Perry, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2012

Audit report on the Perry Municipal Waterworks, Perry, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2012

Report on a special investigation of the Coggon Municipal Light Plant for the period July 1, 2004 through August 27, 2012

Report on a special investigation of the Coggon Municipal Light Plant for the period July 1, 2004 through August 27, 2012

Gestão de recursos para manutenção e desenvolvimento do ensino na esfera municipal

O trabalho objetivou desvelar a gestão dos recursos para manutenção e desenvolvimento do ensino no município de Campo Grande, capital do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, no período de 1997 a 2012. O propósito foi verificar em que medida o montante de recursos disponíveis seria suficiente para a garantia do direito à educação nas etapas da educação básica sob a responsabilidade e a competência do município. Trabalhou-se com a legislação e documentos de âmbito federal e municipal, com destaque para os balanços gerais do município e a literatura pertinente à temática. Constatou-se que as receitas municipais se mostraram ascendentes no período, o que pode ter contribuído para a universalização do ensino fundamental e para a expansão obrigatória da educação básica.

Reaudit report on the City of Remsen and the Remsen Municipal Utilities for the period July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011

Reaudit report on the City of Remsen and the Remsen Municipal Utilities for the period July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011

Exposure to bioaerosols, respiratory health and lung-specific proteins: a prospective study in garbage and wastewater workers.

Objectives To prospectively assess respiratory health in wastewater workers and garbage collectors over 5 years. Methods Exposure, respiratory symptoms and conditions, spirometry and lung-specific proteins were assessed yearly in a cohort of 304 controls, 247 wastewater workers and 52 garbage collectors. Results were analysed with random coefficient models and linear regression taking into account several potential confounders. Results Symptoms, spirometry and lung-specific proteins were not affected by occupational exposure. Conclusions In this population no effects of occupational exposure to bioaerosols were found, probably because of good working conditions.