Dynamic Monitoring and Displacement Ventilation to Prevent Pathogen Spread During Meat Processing

Abstract

Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) and Salmonella are two prominent bacteria that are recognized in pathogenic spread in the meat industry. In recent years outbreaks have occurred due to the ingestion of contaminated products in which could be introduced in multiple ways. A major route that has not been focused on in research and literature in the aerosolization of bacteria and the influence of airflow on bioaerosol concentration/contamination. In this study, a new method is explored in order to contribute to regulations and find an efficient solution to reduce pathogenic spread during the harvest/postharvest process in meat packing facilities. Dynamic monitoring devices, the Wetted Walled Cyclones (WWC), developed in the Aerosol Technology Laboratory, were used to acquire a representative analysis of a typical operating meat packing environment. Combined with displacement ventilation in tactical entryways throughout the facility heavy pathogenic spreading zones were analyzed and reduced. Computation fluid dynamics (CFD) was performed to assess the overall flow trajectory and visualize and validate the influence airflow trajectory has on bioaerosol concentration.

The objectives achieved through this study were to assess environmental and working conditions of a large-scale meat packing facility relative to biological growing conditions, identify facility designs specifically heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and explore proper aerosol mitigation procedures emplacing the most efficient solution and comparing bacterial counts before and after installation. This project took place in a 13,500 sq. ft fully operational meat packing facility over a period of three years. There is little knowledge in literature focusing on airborne pathogenic spread in meat packing facilities and its contribution to pathogenic outbreaks. The use of highly efficient monitoring devices in pairing with CFD analysis enabled testing efficient solutions for food safety and creating mitigation solution by thorough analysis.