Background
Bioaerosols consist of living and non-living biological particles which have become airborne. Thus, they can be inhaled into the human body, where they have the potential to harm health .
To manage this risk, many waste treatment facilities handling organic matter must, at least , consider the risks of bioaerosols.
Environmental bioaerosol monitoring (as per M9) is a specific form of monitoring which is required of certain waste facilities as part of their permit conditions. Most facilities are required to complete this monitoring twice annually as part of their permit requirements.
M9 monitoring is used to detect a site’s bioaerosol emissions to the external environment, in order to ensure that the sensitive receptors near the site are not being exposed to unacceptably high concentrations of bioaerosols.
The Brief
We were employed to monitor the bioaerosol concentrations from the site on an operational day using methods outlined in the M9 Guidance Note. This document provides a standardised set of methods to be used for environmental bioaerosol monitoring, to ensure results are reliable and accurate.
Implementation
Albion conducted M9 monitoring by setting up a weather station to record weather data, and using the information this provided, selecting appropriate areas around the site to sample on. Then, we prepared sample filters and installed them into pumps, which we set up around the site. These pumps were left to run for a set time, in order to collect bioaerosols, which would later be measured in a laboratory.
During this time period, we took observations of the site, to ensure that any abnormalities or information about the site’s processes were recorded. We receive the raw data from the lab, analysis the data and provide a brief descriptive report. This report was then finalised and approved by Toni Gladding, Professor of Environmental Health at OU – a leader in her field with decades of experience in bioaerosol monitoring.
Outcome
On this occasion results were higher than expected so we worked with the site to identify causes of the high levels. Additionally, we then also offered and provided an additional monitoring visit, to site check changes to site operations had resulted in improvements.