Worker health in refuse-derived fuel plants, a five-year followup.

Personal and area air monitoring data for endotoxins, contaminants of concern in the solid waste industry, were analysed to determine if recommended levels were exceeded and if problematic trends existed in comparison with previous measurements. Current and historic lung function and symptom information from the workforce was analysed to determine if values were within predicted norms and to observe any trends that might indicate work related ill health. Average personal exposures to endotoxins were well within recommended levels and remain unchanged from previous sampling. Lung functions in the workforce are within predicted normal values. No trends indicating reductions in lung function based on length of employment were observed and average values are in normal ranges.