Amornrat Waiyaphat.. A study of bioaerosols concentration in the hospital wastewater treatment (activated sludge). Master's Degree(Industrial Hygiene and Safety). Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center. : Mahidol University, 2015.
A study of bioaerosols concentration in the hospital wastewater treatment (activated sludge)
Abstract:
Most wastewater treatment systems used in hospitals produces activated sludge, which causes bioaerosols, bacterial and fungi in the surrounding areas and causes problems in health in workers and surrounding residents. This study concentrated on the bioaerosols in the wastewater treatment plant and in the area of office buildings. This study in wastewater treatment plants compared the surface aerator with the diffuse aerator and also studied upwind areas in comparison with downwind areas. The samples of aerosols were collected by using an aerosol monitor 8533 model DRX Dusttracx and collecting examples of bacteria and fungi by using an air samples Microflow 90 for collecting examples in 4 hospitals, with 100 samples. The results showed that the concentrations of bacteria and fungi in the office buildings and areas around the wastewater treatment plant were different (p-value < 0.0 5). However, the concentrations of aerosols in the office building were less than in the area around the wastewater treatment plant but there was not a significant difference. The concentrations of aerosols and fungi on the surface aerator and the diffuse aerator were different (p-value < 0.05). The concentrations of bacteria of the surface aerators and the diffused aerators were not different. The concentrations of aerosols, bacteria and fungi in the upwind areas and the downwind areas also did not show any differences. In the area around the wastewater treatment plant, there were bacteria and fungi that presented more than in the area of the office buildings. The wastewater treatment plant, which had the diffuse aerators, showed the highest of increase in aerosols and fungi. Wind direction in the upwind area and the downwind area did not present effects on the concentrations of bioaerosols, this may be due to the fact that the area in the wastewater treatment plant was limited and there were more high buildings than in the surrounding wastewater treatment areas.