ASTM E884-82(2012)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Sampling Airborne Microorganisms at Municipal Solid-Waste Processing Facilities (Withdrawn 2021)
Standard Practice for Sampling Airborne Microorganisms at Municipal Solid-Waste Processing Facilities (Withdrawn 2021)
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 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 D1357 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.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This practice covers sampling of airborne microorganisms at municipal solid-waste processing facilities, hereafter referred to as facilities.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee D22 on Air Quality, this practice was withdrawn in January 2021 in accordance with section 10.6.3 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.
General Information
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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 2012)
Standard Practice for
Sampling Airborne Microorganisms at Municipal Solid-
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 3. Definitions
1.1 This practice covers sampling of airborne microorgan- 3.1 microbiological aerosol—an airborne particle partially
isms at municipal solid-waste processing facilities, hereafter orexclusivelycomposedofmicroorganismsincludingbacteria
referred to as facilities. Investigators should consult Practice and fungi.
D1357forthegeneralprinciplesofconductinganair-sampling
3.2 For definitions of other terms used in this practice, refer
program.
to Terminology D1356.
1.2 This practice applies only to sampling airborne bacteria
and fungi, not viruses. Since sampling airborne viruses is 4. Summary of Practice
significantly more difficult than sampling bacteria and fungi,
4.1 Concentrations of selected airborne bacteria and fungi
reliable methods of sampling viruses are not yet available.
are determined using both liquid impinger and multi-stage
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor- impactor samplers.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4.2 Procedures are included for selecting sampling loca-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
tions; determining numbers of samples, types of microorgan-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
isms to be sampled, intervals between sample collection and
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
analysis; choosing sampling equipment; preserving samples;
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
and reporting results.
2. Referenced Documents
5. Significance and Use
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
Water and Wastes
significance. Because it is difficult to correlate airborne levels
AirSamplingInstrumentsfortheEvaluationofAtmospheric
ofbacteriaandfungiwithepidemiologicaldata,thisstandardis
Contaminants
designed to permit the formation of a data base to aid in the
assessment of the health significance of airborne microorgan-
isms. It is intended that the use of this practice will improve
ThispracticeisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD22onAirQuality
samplingprecisionandtherebyfacilitatecomparisonsbetween
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.08 on Assessment, Sampling,
and Analysis of Microorganisms.
sampling results.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2012. Published November 2012. Originally
approvedin1982.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2006asE884–82(2006)DOI:
6. Apparatus
10.1520/E0884-82R12.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
6.1 Two types of samplers are used in each sampling
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
program for microbiological aerosols at waste processing
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. facilities (1).
Available from NationalTechnical Information Service (NTIS), 5301 Shawnee
Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312, http://www.ntis.gov. Request EPA-600/8-78-017.
Available from American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists,
Inc. (ACGIH), 1330 Kemper Meadow Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45240, http:// Theboldfacenumbersintheparenthesesrefertothelistofreferencesattheend
www.acgih.org. of the method.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E884 − 82 (2012)
6.1.1 Multi-Stage Impactor, for collection of airborne mi- aseptically add 20 mL of sterile broth. Mark its level on the
crobes on agar plates. It is recommended that an impactor be impinger, and record any significant loss during sampling.
used for sampling all of the types of bacteria and fungi listed After sampling, the volume must be reconstituted to the
in 10.6.1. original or the actual volume carefully calculated because a
6.1.2 All-Glass Impinger, for collection of airborne mi- known volume must be used for quantitative work.
crobesinaliquidmedium.Itisrecommendedthatanimpinger
be used for sampling fecal coliforms and for determination of 8. Precautions
total plate count.
8.1 Due to the nature of municipal refuse, common sense
6.2 Air Sampling Pumps, providing approximately 40 Lper dictates that some precautions should be observed when
sampling dusts at municipal solid-waste processing facilities.
min (1.4 CFM) free-flow capacity.
Recommended safety practices include wearing hard hats,
6.3 Additional equipment such as carts, stands, and tool
safety shoes, safety glasses, gloves, and respirators as well as
boxes are routinely used during dust-sampling programs.
washing hands before eating or smoking.
7. Reagents and Materials
9. Sampling
7.1 Agars for Use with the Multi-Stage Impactor:
9.1 Location and Number of Sampling Sites:
7.1.1 Littman Oxgall, for total number of fungi present and
9.1.1 All sampling shall be carried out during normal plant
for identification of the following species of fungi: (a) Asper-
operations.
gillus flavus and (b) A. fumigatus.
9.1.2 Use not less than two sampling locations inside the
7.1.2 Vogel and Johnson, selective for Staphylococcus au-
facilityatworksitesorzoneswhereemployeesaremostlikely
reus.
to be exposed to airborne dust concentrations (4) (Note 2).
NOTE 1—Afungicide such as nystatin should be used with these agars.
mong these locations, those where sampling equipment can be
7.1.3 Levine eosin methylene blue, specific for enterics
located without interfering with facility operations shall be
including Klebsiella spp. (Note 1).
preferred.
7.1.4 Trypticase soy, for total bacteria count (Note 1).
NOTE 2—Examples of potential sampling locations are (a) on a tipping
7.2 Liquid Media for Use in Impingers:
floor near or on a front end loader; (b) at a hand-picking station along a
conveyor belt; and (c) along catwalks or platforms in frequent use by
7.2.1 Lactose Broth with Antifoam A, for analysis of fecal
employees.
coliform and total plate count.
7.2.2 The exact amount of Antifoam A to be added should 9.1.3 Outside the facility, locate at least one sampling site
be determined prior to field sampling. Sufficient antifoam 300 m (1000 ft) upwind from the facility and at least one
should be added to prevent loss of fluid from the impinger, but sampling site 100 m (330 ft) downwind from the facility.
excess should be avoided. Measure the distances upwind and downwind from the same
point, the point at which the emissions leave the facility or, in
7.3 Media Preparation:
the case of multiple discharge points, from a central point
7.3.1 Conduct the following according to Microbiological
equidistant from the discharge points.
Methods for Monitoring the Environment, Water and Wastes
9.1.4 Carefully measure and record the actual distances of
(2):(a) laboratory quality assurance, (b) selection and use of
the sampling sites from the points of emission and wind
laboratory apparatus, (c) washing and sterilization, and (d)
direction and velocity.
preparation of culture media.
7.3.2 Preincubate all sampling media to determine if con-
9.2 Position of Sampling Inlet—Locatethesamplinginlet(s)
tamination has occurred and to dry the agar surface. Excessive 1.5 m (5 ft) above the floor level to approximate the breathing
evaporation from the media or excessive contamination of the zone of a worker or other person exposed to the dusts. Locate
exterior surfaces of the petri dishes must be guarded against the vacuum pumps where they will not disturb the air flow
during this preliminary incubation. patterns around the sampling inlet(s).
7.3.3 Media level in the sampling container is critical to
9.3 Number of Samples:
collection efficiency.
9.3.1 Inside the facility, collect not less than 5 replicate
7.3.3.1 Impactor—The petri dishes must be of such a size
samples at each sampling site.
thattheagarsurfaceisatthemanufacturer’sspecifieddistance
9.3.2 Outside the facility, collect not less than 3 replicate
below each stage. The manufacturer of theAndersen impactor
samples at the upwind site(s) and not less than 5 replicate
specifies 27 mL of agar per standardAndersen petri dish. The
samples at the downwind site(s).
agar surface must be smooth and free of bubbles to ensure an
9.3.3 Wide variations in reported microbiological aerosol
even air flow.
levels within facilities make it unlikely that the collection of
7.3.3.2 Impinger—For the all glass impinger, 20 mL of
five samples will yield a tight distribution of results; therefore,
broth is recommended (3). Autoclave impingers, and then
where economically feasible, it is recommended that the
sample size be increased to more than five.
The six-stage and two-stage microbiological samplers manufactured byAnder-
9.4 Air Temperature:
son Samplers, Inc. have been found to be satisfactory.
9.4.1 Collect samples when the air temperature at the
AirsamplingimpingerNo.7540manufacturedbyAceGlass,Inc.(AGI30)has
been found to be satisfactory. sampling site is above 5°C (40°F).
E884 − 82 (2012)
TABLE 1 1 Suggested Initial Sampling Times
9.4.2 At temperatures below 5°C (40°F), the sampling
medium may crystallize, thus affecting recovery of microor- Suggested Initial
Type of Media Sampling Time,
ganisms.
A
min.
Littman-Oxgall 1.5
10. Procedure
Vogel and Johnson 8
Levine eosin methylene blue 10
10.1 Record air temperature and relative humidity for each
Trypticase soy 0.5
location sampled.
A
The initial sampling times suggested above are based on reported concentration
10.2 Label all impingers to denote sampling run and loca-
levels in an enclosed facility. These times are subject to adjustment based upon
tion. Label all petri dishes to denote sampling run, location, the initial test results.
and stage of impactor.
10.3 Air-Flow Rates:
10.3.1 Determine the air-flow rate by an in-line flow meter.
radiation, including sunlight. Use the proper media to ensure
Where this is not possible, calibrate air-flow rate with a
preservation of the sample until its identification. If samples
gas-flowmeteraccordingtotheproceduredescribedinRef (5).
must be shipped prior to analysis, positive controls should be
The recommended flow rate for theAndersen impactor is 28.3
included with each shipment. Federal regulations must be
L/min.Theoptimumflowratefortheall-glassimpingeris12.5
followed when they apply to these shipments.
L/min.
10.5.1 Care During Sampling with the Impactor:
10.3.2 Maintainaconstantair-flowratethroughthesampler
10.5.1.1 Carry out impactor loading and unloading in an
during the sampling time. Before sampling, allow the vacuum
atmosphere of minimal microbial activity, preferably in a
pumptowarmupfornotlessthan1min.Useclamps,T-shaped
portable polyethylene glove bag or a similar container. Invert
connectors, and in-line membrane filters with 1-mm pore size
the petri dishes immediately when the sampler is unloaded.
topullfilteredairthroughthepumpduringthewarmupwithout
Sanitize the impactor with a 70% alcohol solution and dry
pulling air through the sampler. Select clamps and T-shaped
thoroughly between samplings. Do not sanitize in the glove
connectors that will not alter the flow rate through the
bag. To provide a control check for contamination, load and
samplers.
unload the impactor without sampling using a set of trypticase
10.3.3 Secure all connections to keep the air loss less than
soy agar petri dishes, and then subject these petri dishes to the
4% of the average sampling rate or less than 0.00057 m /min
same processing steps and analytical procedures applied to the
(0.02 ft /min), whichever is smaller. Measure the leakage-flow
samples.
rate with a suitable dry-gas meter connected to the discharge
10.5.1.2 Minimize uneven distribution of colonies on the
side of the vacuum pump while the inlet to the sampling
platesbycenteringtheplatesonthethreepegsineachstageof
apparatus is plugged and a 380-mm (15-in. Hg) vacuum is
theimpactorand,onceloaded,handlingtheimpactorcarefully
drawn. A lower vacuum may be used provided it is not
to maintain this position.
exceeded during sampling.
10.5.2 Care During Sampling with the Impinger:
10.5.2.1 Include a negative (sterile) control with the im-
NOTE3—Manyofthevane-typeairsamplingpumps(includingtheone
furnishedforusewiththeAndersensampler)useaneedlevalvetocontrol
pingers to determine whether the samples become contami-
the air flow through the sampler by bleeding in air that bypasses the
nated while in transit or at the test site.
sampler. The air flow through the pump is therefore constant, and a
10.5.3 Preserve all samples by placing each one in a closed
meaningful measure of the flow through the sampler can only be made at
containerat4 62°Cimmediatelyaftertakingthem.Protectthe
this location in the sample stream.
plates from direct contact with the ice to prevent contamina-
10.4 Sampling time—The length of time needed to collect
tion.
each sample is dependent upon the type of sampler used and
NOTE 4—Sealed ice packets have been found to be satisfactory and
theconcentrationofmicrobiologicalaerosolspresentintheair.
convenient for this purpose.
Trial sampling runs may be necessary to determine if a
10.5.4 Return the samples to the laboratory as soon as
satisfactoryplateloadingcanbeobtainedwithinthelimitations
of the equipment used. possible and not later than 6 h after sampling. Process the
10.4.1 For the all-glass impinger operating at a flow rate of samples and place in a incubator as soon as possible.
12.5 L/min, the normal sampling time is 20 min. 10.5.5 Forimpingersamples,rinsetheneckoftheimpinger
10.4.2 When using a multistage impactor, choose the sam- and add this material to the sample. The volume of the rinse
pling time to avoid overloading the impaction plates, that is, solution must be measured so that the final sample volume is
theloadingonanyoftheplatesshouldn
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