A job exposure matrix related to bioaerosol exposure during collection of household waste

Personal bioaerosol exposure in collecting household waste is correlated to governing parameters including type of the waste, collection unit at the houses, type of collection vehicle, and the waste collector's job description. It is difficult to generalize from exposure data on an individual waste collector to a large group of collectors. To solve this problem a job-exposure matrix (JEM) was constructed using matrix elements characterized in terms of governing parameters. Exposure data for a matrix element were obtained by personal sampling in the field. For elements with no measured data the exposure was extrapolated from elements with measured data using exposure modifiers and a multiplicative model. It is concluded that the matrix allows exposure of subgroups of waste collectors to be estimated on the basis of easily obtained data on governing parameters. Address for correspondence: Niels O. Breum, National Institute of Occupational Health, Lersø Parkallè 105, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.