What does this research mean for the field?

Workers at mechanical-biological treatment plants are exposed to high bacterial species diversity, including potentially pathogenic bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes, via utility vehicle air filters. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Assess occupational exposure to bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes on air filters in mechanical-biological treatment facilities.

May 18, 2026International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health0 citationsOpen Access

Bacteria and associated antibiotic resistance in air filter-derived biological material from utility vehicles at mechanical-biological treatment plants

AKAnna KozajdaNofer Institute of Occupational Medicine EMEmilia MiśkiewiczNofer Institute of Occupational Medicine JGJan GaworInstitute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Key Points

Assess occupational exposure to bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes on air filters in mechanical-biological treatment facilities.
Collected air filters from utility vehicles in 9 MBT plants in Poland during summer 2024.
DNA was isolated from duplicate filter samples and subjected to high-throughput next-generation sequencing.
Conducted bioinformatic data analysis to detect bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes on air filter surfaces.
Demonstrated high bacterial species diversity present in the MBT plant environment.
Identified bacteria with high pathogenic potential on at least one air filter.
Detected antimicrobial resistance genes encoding resistance to antibiotics used in human and veterinary medicine.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The study objective was to assess occupational exposure to bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) present on air filters of utility vehicles used in the working environment of mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) facilities, in the context of workers health risks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in summer 2024 in 9 air filters from utility vehicles used in MBT plants in Poland. External filters were removed from the vehicle's ventilation system, packed and shipped according to instructions. From the duplicate filters samples DNA was isolated and high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) was carried out. Bioinformatic data analysis was conducted to detect bacteria and ARGs in air filters' surfaces. RESULTS: - each at least on 1 air filter. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limited number of analyzed filters, the study demonstrated a high bacterial species diversity in the MBT plant environment. The MBT workers are exposed to bacteria with high pathogenic potential and to ARGs encoding resistance to antibiotics used exclusively in human medicine, used in human and veterinary medicine, and not intended for human use. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2026;39(2).

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