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Composting provides a sustainable method of processing biodegradable waste but is often contaminated with plastic. We quantified and characterised microplastics in air and compost samples from an industrial aerobic green waste composting facility in England. Compost samples were taken at different stages of the process; air samples were taken onsite, upwind, and downwind. Microplastics were found in compost from all stages of the process at levels comparable to those reported for marine sediments; higher concentrations were found in the screening stages of the composting process (mean 9.0 (IQR: 7.1) and 9.0 (IQR: 7.4) MPs 5 g-1 (dw), for 30 mm and 10 mm screened material, respectively). Airborne microplastics were found onsite (32–49 MP m−3), upwind (1 MP m−3) and downwind (3 MP m−3). Composting facilities represent a potential source of microplastics and point of entry to the wider environment. Further investigation into other sites and processes is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioaerosol exposure has been linked to adverse respiratory conditions. Intensive farming and composting facilities are important anthropogenic sources of bioaerosols. We aimed to characterise populations living close to intensive farming and composting facilities. We also infer whether the public are becoming more concerned about anthropogenic bioaerosol emissions, using reports of air pollution related incidents attributed to facilities. We mapped the location of 1,257 intensive farming and 310 composting facilities in England in relation to the resident population and its characteristics (sex and age), area characteristics (deprivation proxy and rural/urban classification) and school locations stratified by pre-defined distance bands from these bioaerosol sources. We also calculated the average number of air pollution related incidents per year per facility. We found that more than 16% of the population and 15% of schools are located within 4,828 m of an intensive farming facility or 4,000 m of a composting facility; few people (0.01 %) live very close to these sites and tend to be older people. Close to composting facilities, populations are more likely to be urban and more deprived. The number of incidents were attributed to a small proportion of facilities; population characteristics around these facilities were similar. Results indicate that populations living near composting facilities (particularly>250 to ⩽ 4,000 m) are mostly located in urban areas (80%–88% of the population), which supports the need for more community health studies to be conducted. Results could also be used to inform risk management strategies at facilities with higher numbers of incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of composting sites in Europe is rapidly increasing, due to efforts to reduce the fraction of waste destined for landfill, but evidence on possible health impacts is limited. This article systematically reviews studies related to bioaerosol exposures within and near composting facilities and associated health effects in both community and occupational health settings. Six electronic databases and bibliographies from January 1960 to July 2014 were searched for studies reporting on health outcomes and/or bioaerosol emissions related to composting sites. Risk of bias was assessed using a customized score. Five hundred and thirty-six papers were identified and reviewed, and 66 articles met the inclusion criteria (48 exposure studies, 9 health studies, 9 health and exposure studies). Exposure information was limited, with most measurements taken in occupational settings and for limited time periods. Bioaerosol concentrations were highest on-site during agitation activities (turning, shredding, and screening). Six studies detected concentrations of eitherAspergillus fumigatusor total bacteria above the English Environment Agency’s recommended threshold levels beyond 250 m from the site. Occupational studies of compost workers suggested elevated risks of respiratory illnesses with higher bioaerosol exposures. Elevated airway irritation was reported in residents near composting sites, but this may have been affected by reporting bias. The evidence base on health effects of bioaerosol emissions from composting facilities is still limited, although there is sufficient evidence to support a precautionary approach for regulatory purposes. While data to date are suggestive of possible respiratory effects, further study is needed to confirm this and to explore other health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne fungi are significant contributors to allergic and infectious disease. While microscopy remains the primary method for fungal identification, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) enables untargeted analysis of a much wider range of environmental taxa. This study used HTS to better characterise airborne fungal composition over a 12-month period in two UK locations, the city of Leicester in central England and a rural site in Chilton (Oxfordshire) approximately 115 km further south. Air samples were collected over a year. A subset of 240 samples (120 per location) were analysed by HTS with a combined internal transcribed spacer region (ITS2) and D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) metabarcoding approach. With statistical imputation a representative 12-month dataset was created. Differences in fungal diversity and composition were explored, incorporating meteorological data. HTS analysis identified 272 fungal genera across locations and seasons, approximately 4-fold more than in other studies using traditional microscopy methods. Fungal diversity, richness and composition at the two locations were broadly similar with some taxa-specific differences likely reflecting land-use types (urban vs rural) and/or local meteorological variables. In particular, air temperature and precipitation significantly influenced fungal composition. This study demonstrates the value of HTS for characterising airborne fungi. While it does not provide absolute quantitation, HTS could be used as a screening tool to identify novel associations between fungal exposure and health outcomes, and should be used in combination with quantitative methods, such as microscopy and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Greater spatial and temporal understanding of the wide range of airborne fungal exposure is crucial for exploring associated health impacts and developing improved public health interventions and alert systems for susceptible individuals., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest ☒ The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.)