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  • Atmospheric dispersion and ...
    Vermeulen, L.C.; Brandsema, P.S.; van de Kassteele, J.; Bom, B.C.J.; Sterk, H.A.M.; Sauter, F.J.; van den Berg, H.H.J.L.; de Roda Husman, A.M.

    International journal of hygiene and environmental health, August 2021, 2021-08-00, 20210801, Letnik: 237
    Journal Article

    Legionnaires Disease incidence has risen in the Netherlands in recent years. For the majority of the cases, the source of infection is never identified. Two Dutch wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have previously been identified as source of outbreaks of Legionnaires Disease (LD) among local residents. The objective of this study is to examine if LD patients in the Netherlands are more exposed to aerosols originating from WWTPs than controls. An atmospheric dispersion model was used to generate nationwide exposure maps of aerosols from 776 WWTPs in the Netherlands. Municipal sewage treatment plants and industrial WWTPs were both included. Exposure of LD cases and controls at the residential address was compared, in a matched case-control design using a conditional logistic regression. Cases were notified LD cases with onset of disease in the period 2013–2018 in the Netherlands (n = 1604). Aerosols dispersed over a large part of the Netherlands, but modelled concentrations are estimated to be elevated in close proximity to WWTPs. A statistically significant association was found between LD and the calculated annual average aerosol concentrations originating from WWTPs (odds-ratio: 1.32 (1.06–1.63)). This association remained significant when the two outbreak-related WWTPs were removed from the analysis (odds-ratio: 1.28 (1.03–1.58)). LD cases were more exposed to aerosols from WWTPs than controls. This indicates that exposure to aerosols dispersed from WWTPs caused Legionnaires Disease in residents living near WWTPs in the period 2013–2018. In order to investigate which characteristics of WWTPs are associated with an increased LD risk, the WWTP database should be updated and more data is needed on the presence and survival of aerosolized Legionella bacteria to improve the Legionella dispersion modelling. Furthermore, it is recommended to further investigate how aerosol dispersion of WWTPs can effectively be reduced in order to reduce the potential health risk. •Exposure to aerosols from WWTPs likely caused LD in people near WWTPs in 2013–2018.•Atmospheric dispersion from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was modelled.•Nationwide exposure maps were made for aerosols from 776 WWTPs in the Netherlands.•Spatial distribution of Legionnaires' disease (LD) was compared to exposure maps.•LD cases were estimated to be more exposed to aerosols from WWTPs than controls.