Bioaerosols and OSH

Introduction

The presence of biological agents in occupational environments is an important health and social problem. Micro- and macroorganisms and the structures and substances they produce may exert a harmful influence upon exposed individuals leading to numerous adverse health outcomes. Biological agents that are transmitted as bioaerosols are of the greatest epidemiological importance. On a global scale, at least several hundred million people are estimated to be exposed to these risks at work[1]. From a public health perspective, the costs of hazardous exposure to bioaerosols are significant reaching billions of dollars[2] [3].

Definitions…