TY - JOUR
T1 - Cytotoxicity of filtering respiratory protective devices from the waste sorting industry
T2 - a comparative study between interior layer and exhalation valve
AU - Viegas, Carla
AU - Twarużek, Magdalena
AU - Dias, Marta
AU - Almeida, Beatriz
AU - Carolino, Elisabete
AU - Soszczyńska, Ewelina
AU - Viegas, Susana
AU - Aranha Caetano, Liliana
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Filtering respiratory protection devices (FRPD) are mandatory for workers to wear in the Portuguese waste-sorting industry. Previous results regarding microbial contamination found on FRPD interior layer raised the question of whether microbial contamination from the exhalation valve would also have cytotoxicity effects. Since the FRPD exhalation valves are very close to workers’ nose and mouth, they represent a source of exposure to bioburden by inhalation. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the microbial contamination present in the FRPD exhalation valves. For this purpose, the cytotoxicity effects were determined through the MTT assay in two different cell lines (human A549 epithelial lung cells, and swine kidney cells) and compared with previous results obtained with FRPD interior layers. The contamination present in the FRPD exhalation valves presented some cytotoxicity on epithelial lung cells, suggesting the inhalation route as a potential route of exposure through the use of FRPD in the waste-sorting industry. Half-maximal (50%) inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were lower for FRPD interior layer than exhalation valves in lung cells, with overall cytotoxicity lower in exhalation valves when compared to interior layer (z = −4.455, p = 0.000). Higher bacterial counts in TSA were correlated with lower IC50 values, thus, higher cytotoxicity effect in lung cells. No statistically significant differences were detected among different workplaces.
AB - Filtering respiratory protection devices (FRPD) are mandatory for workers to wear in the Portuguese waste-sorting industry. Previous results regarding microbial contamination found on FRPD interior layer raised the question of whether microbial contamination from the exhalation valve would also have cytotoxicity effects. Since the FRPD exhalation valves are very close to workers’ nose and mouth, they represent a source of exposure to bioburden by inhalation. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the microbial contamination present in the FRPD exhalation valves. For this purpose, the cytotoxicity effects were determined through the MTT assay in two different cell lines (human A549 epithelial lung cells, and swine kidney cells) and compared with previous results obtained with FRPD interior layers. The contamination present in the FRPD exhalation valves presented some cytotoxicity on epithelial lung cells, suggesting the inhalation route as a potential route of exposure through the use of FRPD in the waste-sorting industry. Half-maximal (50%) inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were lower for FRPD interior layer than exhalation valves in lung cells, with overall cytotoxicity lower in exhalation valves when compared to interior layer (z = −4.455, p = 0.000). Higher bacterial counts in TSA were correlated with lower IC50 values, thus, higher cytotoxicity effect in lung cells. No statistically significant differences were detected among different workplaces.
KW - Cytotoxicity
KW - Filtering respiratory protective devices
KW - MTT assay
KW - Passive sampling
KW - Risk assessment
KW - Waste sorting environment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105006787&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106603
DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106603
M3 - Article
C2 - 33940392
AN - SCOPUS:85105006787
SN - 0160-4120
VL - 155
JO - Environment International
JF - Environment International
M1 - 106603
ER -