[Evaluation of occupational exposure to biological agents, endotoxins and PNOC in a sewage treatment plant]. / Valutazione dell'esposizione professionale ad agenti biologici, endotossine e PNOC in un impianto di depurazione.

The aim of this work has been to determine the occupational exposure to the biological agents and airborne dust in a sewage treatment plant in south Italy. The air samplings were performed in a sewage treatment plant in Calabria, in two different seasons (spring and summer) at 5 sites associated with various phases of sewage treatment process. In addition we have estimated the concentration of airborne endotoxins and PNOC (Particles Not Otherwise Classified) by using personal samplers. The results showed a significant variation in exposure to bioaerosols, endotoxins and PNOC depending on the sampling season: the PNOC concentration increase as much as the endotoxins concentration in spring and decrease in summer

[The importance of the airborne microorganisms evaluation in the operating rooms: the biological risk for health care workers]. / L'importanza della valutazione dei microrganismi aereodispersi nelle sale operatorie: il rischio biologico per gli operatori sanitari.

The operating room is a complex environment, traditionally considered at high infectious risk, for both the patients and the health care workers, they can contract diseases, because of the exposure for relatively long times to various dangerous chemical, physical and biological factors. The biological contamination in the operating rooms is mostly imputable to airborne and bloodborne microorganisms, whose primary source represent the staff: patients and operating team, while either secondary sources are the contaminate air introduced from the VCCC system and the use of the infect instruments. About 10% of the hospital infections are determined by airborne bacteria and a variable fraction of these, not only in immunocompromised patients but also in healthy people, may cause the respirators pathologies. The aim of this paper was to estimate the microbial contamination, in 20 hospitals located in three regions of the South Italy, for a total 81 operating rooms. The results show that 17 of the 20 operating units and 45 out of 81 operating rooms examined are contaminated. Periodic inspections should be carried out in order to control and lower the biological risk for both the patients and the health care workers.

[The pathogens responsible for waterborne infections: the biological risk for agricultural laborer]. / Patogeni responsabili di infezioni idrodiffuse: il rischio biologico per operatori agricoli.

The presence of microbiological agents in waters intended for human consumption, irrigation and recreational activity, is a significant risk for the human health. Recent epidemiological data demonstrate an increase of the diseases caused by waterborne pathogens, especially of the gastroenteritis infections, in the industrialized countries. Numerous studies have evidenced the contamination of deep and surface waters; bacteria within contaminated water represent a highly diversified group, that are usually encountered in wastewater and sewage. In particular the pollution of the groundwater is much dangerous, from the viewpoint of drinking water safety. In fact, the groundwaters whenever polluted, have an insufficient self-purification. The aim of this paper was to estimate the presence of waterborne pathogens in groundwater intended for the irrigation. Well water samples were collected at eighteen different agricultural areas located in Calabria and analyzed for the presence of waterborne pathogens. The results shows a diffuse pollution of the wells in all of the monitorated zones. Then out of eighteen examined samples were positive for total coliforms and Enterococcus spp. and the value of total microbial contamination were higher than 100 UFC/ml; eight of these ten wells were contaminated from Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. (minimal value 2x10(1) UFC/l; maximum value 2x10(3) UFC/l).