ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the most important groups of harmful biological agents which may be hazardous to human health at the workplace. These agents include filamentous fungi and substances produced by them (allergens, mycotoxins and volatile organic compounds), bacteria as well as endotoxins and peptidoglycans of bacterial origin, viruses, ticks, plant pollen and other.
Potential health consequences of exposure to harmful biological agents are presented, along with the examples of specific workplaces where such risks exist. Particular emphasis is placed on the exposure of healthcare professionals, farm workers, workers in the agri-food industry as well as biomass, waste and sewage management, and workers of various publicly owned facilities, to harmful biological agents.
Factors influencing the survival of microorganisms at the workplace and in natural environments stemming from their physiology and environmental needs are also described. Growth of microorganisms is characterised as a sigmoid curve. The effects of temperature, hydrogen ion concentration (pH of the environment), redox potential, water activity and hydrostatic pressure on the growth of microorganisms are described. Attention is paid to the phenomenon of microbial communication and interactions in the environment.
