Risks of occupational exposure to gram negative bacteria in the sewage sludge

ABSTRACT

78 employees at 3 sewage treatment plants and 2 drinking water plants at Mansoura locality were interviewed for the presence of specific medical symptoms, white blood cell count and serum immunoglobulin concentrations [IgG and IgM] were determined. Also the number and species of the air borne gram -ve bacteria were studied in order characterize exposure to aerosols of sewage water. Diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, serum immunoglobulins IgG and IgM were reported in significant higher proportion in sewage workers together with the increased numbers of air borne gram -ve bacilli