Determination of Emitted Airborne Microorganisms from a Wastewater Treatment Plant
Microflora of
wastewater is very much vast just like the composition of pollutants. Large amount
of microorganisms are found in domestic sewage along with human and animal
excreta. Among the microbes determined in sewage and in the air collected at a
wastewater treatment plant they contain both saprophytes, potential pathogens
and pathogens of the genera Clostridium, Enterobacter,Bacillus, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, as well as filamentous fungi from genus , Penicillium and Aspergillus.
Microorganisms
which are transferred from sewage to air in the form of mainly bioaerosol are prone
to some conditions which can increase their growth and development. Some amount
die rapidly mainly due to desiccation, exposure to excessively high or low
temperatures or are killed by solar radiation. But a few microorganisms have
some specific mechanisms which enable them to survive the unfavourable and
harsh environmental conditions which could stop their biological activity.
Thus, large counts
of these microbes in air is a major
indicator of atmospheric pollution.
Wastewater
treatment plants are a source of biological aerosols and they are the location point
of source of atmospheric air pollution. However, differences between WWTPs,
including, type of technological facilities applied, sewage composition, aeration
method, land management and plant capacity thus results in differences in generation
of bioaerosols.
highest risk for
exposure to biological aerosols are the areas adjacent to aeration chambers because
of the high amount of microbiological pollution generated there.
Conclusions
Faecal
bacteria and other microbes which are the typical living microflaura of sewage,
show out the real amount of air pollution degree in and around the plant. This should
be monitored well to establish the effects due to which natural environment and
human health is being depleted drastically. The main sources of bioaerosol
emission at the plant were the grate chamber as well as bioreactor. Large
counts of the family of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria,
including pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria and high variety of species found
in air samples inside the bioreactor, may indicate that the health of the staff
staying for longer periods of time near the bioreactor could be at risk. So
suitable methods to reduce the health hazards like covering aeration chambers, reduced
aerosol generation helps in more decrease in the numbers of airborne
microorganisms in a Bio treatment system plant area and its surroundings. This
is much necessary action to be implemented.
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It is true that people near aeration chambers are at a great risk to biological aerosols. This is a global issue. Well said.
ReplyDeleteComment:
ReplyDeleteThis Airborne microorganisms is really a rare approach and quite studies are being done. Good work by the way