ASTM E884-82(2006)

Standard Practice for Sampling Airborne Microorganisms at Municipal Solid-Waste Processing Facilities

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Bacteria and fungi present in municipal solid wastes (as well as in other forms of waste) may become airborne as dusts during waste processing. Several investigations to determine the health significance of these microbiological aerosols have been hindered by the lack of standardized procedures for sampling airborne bacteria and fungi in an industrial environment and by the absence of standards for assessing their health significance. Because it is difficult to correlate airborne levels of bacteria and fungi with epidemiological data, this standard is designed to permit the formation of a data base to aid in the assessment of the health significance of airborne microorganisms. It is intended that the use of this practice will improve sampling precision and thereby facilitate comparisons between sampling results.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers sampling of airborne microorganisms at municipal solid-waste processing facilities, hereafter referred to as facilities. Investigators should consult Practice D 1357 for the general principles of conducting an air-sampling program.
1.2 This practice applies only to sampling airborne bacteria and fungi, not viruses. Since sampling airborne viruses is significantly more difficult than sampling bacteria and fungi, reliable methods of sampling viruses are not yet available.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2006
• ICS: 13.030.10 - Solid wastes
• ICS: 13.030.40 - Installations and equipment for waste disposal and treatment
• Technical Committee: D34 - Waste Management
• Drafting Committee: D34.01.02 - Sampling Techniques

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E884-82(2001) - Standard Practice for Sampling Airborne Microorganisms at Municipal Solid-Waste Processing Facilities
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2006
• Referred By: ASTM D5681-22e1 - Standard Terminology for Waste and Waste Management
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2006

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E884 − 82(Reapproved 2006)
Standard Practice for
Sampling Airborne Microorganisms at Municipal Solid-
1
Waste Processing Facilities
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E884; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Summary of Practice
1.1 This practice covers sampling of airborne microorgan-
4.1 Concentrations of selected airborne bacteria and fungi
isms at municipal solid-waste processing facilities, hereafter
are determined using both liquid impinger and multi-stage
referred to as facilities. Investigators should consult Practice
impactor samplers.
D1357forthegeneralprinciplesofconductinganair-sampling
4.2 Procedures are included for selecting sampling loca-
program.
tions; determining numbers of samples, types of microorgan-
1.2 This practice applies only to sampling airborne bacteria
isms to be sampled, intervals between sample collection and
and fungi, not viruses. Since sampling airborne viruses is
analysis; choosing sampling equipment; preserving samples;
significantly more difficult than sampling bacteria and fungi,
and reporting results.
reliable methods of sampling viruses are not yet available.
5. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.1 Bacteria and fungi present in municipal solid wastes (as
D1356Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
well as in other forms of waste) may become airborne as dusts
Atmospheres
during waste processing. Several investigations to determine
D1357Practice for Planning the Sampling of the Ambient
the health significance of these microbiological aerosols have
Atmosphere
been hindered by the lack of standardized procedures for
2.2 Other Standards:
sampling airborne bacteria and fungi in an industrial environ-
MicrobiologicalMethods for Monitoring the Environment,
mentandbytheabsenceofstandardsforassessingtheirhealth
3
Water and Wastes
significance. Because it is difficult to correlate airborne levels
AirSamplingInstrumentsfortheEvaluationofAtmospheric
ofbacteriaandfungiwithepidemiologicaldata,thisstandardis
4
Contaminants
designed to permit the formation of a data base to aid in the
assessment of the health significance of airborne microorgan-
3. Definitions
isms. It is intended that the use of this practice will improve
3.1 microbiological aerosol—an airborne particle partially
samplingprecisionandtherebyfacilitatecomparisonsbetween
orexclusivelycomposedofmicroorganismsincludingbacteria
sampling results.
and fungi.
3.2 For definitions of other terms used in this practice, refer
6. Apparatus
to Terminology D1356.
6.1 Two types of samplers are used in each sampling
program for microbiological aerosols at waste processing
1 5
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
facilities (5).
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.02 on
6.1.1 Multi-Stage Impactor, for collection of airborne mi-
Sampling Techniques.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2006. Published March 2006. Originally
crobes on agar plates. It is recommended that an impactor be
approvedin1982.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2001asE884-82(2001)DOI:
used for sampling all of the types of bacteria and fungi listed
10.1520/E0884-82R06.
6
in 10.6.1.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
3 5
Available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Theboldfacenumbersintheparenthesesrefertothelistofreferencesattheend
Road, Springfield, Va. 22161. Request EPA-600/8-78-017. of the method.
4 6
Available from American Conference of Governmental and Industrial The six-stage and two-stage microbiological samplers manufactured byAnder-
Hygienists, 6500 Glenway Avenue, Building D-5, Cincinnati, OH 45211. son Samplers, Inc. have been found to be satisfactory.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E884 − 82 (2006)
6.1.2 All-Glass Impinger, for collection of airborne mi- 8. Precautions
crobesinaliquidmedium.Itisrecommendedthatanimpinger
8.1 Due to the nature of municipal refuse, common sense
be used for sampling fecal coliforms and for determination of
dictates that some precautions should be observed when
7
total plate count.
sampling dusts at municipal solid-waste processing facilities.
6.2 Air Sampling Pumps, providing approximately 40 Lp
...