Occupational Exposure Biological Agents: Focus on a Growing Concern

Dear Colleagues,

Workers may be exposed to biological agents, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their associated compounds and metabolites, during their work shifts and all of their working life. This concerns many occupational environments, including health care, food industries, agriculture, waste management chains, offices, etc. While the occupational exposure to biological agents is acknowledged, their mechanisms of action on workers’ health are not fully elucidated and no occupational exposure limits are available. The current pandemic due to the SARS-COV-2 virus has moreover raised awareness of the issue with regard to new and emerging infectious agents. Thus, there is still a need for better understanding the exposure in the workplace, its effects on workers’ health and the adapted prevention strategies. The aim of this Special Issue is to discuss the state of knowledge regarding the occupational exposure to biological agents (bacteria, fungi, viruses, associated compounds/metabolites). Papers and reviews are welcome to illustrate current advances on the issue of:

• Biological agents at the workplace and their danger*
• Methods and strategies for their study
• Routes, circumstances and levels of exposure
• Health impacts of exposure
• Implementation of preventive measures for biological risks
• Biological risks in the “exposome” concept

Dr. Philippe Duquenne
Guest Editor

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