Risk Assessment of laboratory technicians' exposure to biological and chemical agents

Abstract

Risk prevention must be based on a correct and permanent risk assessment in the work as a core activity of health and safety services. In several activities workers are not aware of the risks they are exposed to, namely when it is not their common work. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of exposure of technicians in a research laboratory to biological and chemical agents. For this purpose, indoor air of three rooms with different characteristics was sampled from February to July (6 campaigns). For biological agents both passive and active methodologies were applied. The chemical and physical parameters were also measured in each campaign. The fungus colonies forming units (CFU) in the passive sampling and bacteria CFU in the active sampling were below the determination range for each method. The active sampling of fungus revealed a high concentration in two rooms, in agreement with the hygrothermal conditions that were measured. In these rooms, the fungus amount was higher than the reported for compliance established by national legislation for indoor air quality. VOCs concentrations were also above the acceptable level and thus some preventive measures regarding ventilation should be implemented.