Exposure to raw sewage

[cavellacontractngphiladelphia]

I am a contractor / plumber who was recently exposed on (2) seperate occassions to over 75 gallons of raw sewage each time. It did not spash on my per se, my question is are there any medical effects or concerns regarding breathing in the fumes from the sewage? I and my workers were exposed to it for a period of over 6 hours without resperators or mask.  A sewage pipe was disconnected in a basement and we provided a 75 gallon drum where most of it ran into and filled it all the way up....  we then had to take five gallon buckets into this container to allow flushing this matter down a near by toilet so that it would be disposed of properly.

We then used straight bleach and mops to sanitize the basement. Should I have any concerns? Could it make me sick? Like flu like sytomes?

[Kristina538]

I would be checking the H. & S. manual for guidelines on safe practice.   My husband works in Drainage and they have really good guidelines which includes wearing masks in some instances.  

I wouldn't be worried about catching HVC unless you poured a few buckets of sewerage over your head after you cut the outside of your nose and then rubbed it in as hard as you could.

I would be worried about what else you breathed in - there's a lot of man-flu in the drains plus more.  Perhaps you could keep a mask handy, along with your other safety gear.

[RainLover71]

The HCV is spread from blood to blood contact,sharing IV drug works & blood transfusions amongst other modes.You had no risk but I agree it wouldn't have been a pleasant experience.Sounds like the guy from the TV show--Dirty Jobs.

[Ironpony]

Breathing in fumes from sewage will not give you Hepatitis c. I'm sure from what you have described though it is gross enough to make anyone feel sick and have flu like symptoms.

[BoceprevirGal]

You posted in the Hep C Forum, and you cant get Hep C from breathing sewage fumes.