Avaliação ambiental e epidemiológica do trabalhador da indústria de fertilizantes de Rio Grande, RS

Abstract

As doenças pulmonares ocupacionais constituem um importante e grave problema de saúde pública. Com o objetivo de contribuir para o conhecimento dos riscos da exposição associada à produção de fertilizantes, realizou-se estudo ambiental e epidemiológico, transversal, com trabalhadores desse setor, em Rio Grande, RS. Foi aplicado questionário da ATS-DLD-78, realizado estudo da função pulmonar através de espirometria e radiografia torácica em 413 funcionários, sendo 305 expostos e 108 não expostos. Os trabalhadores expostos eram todos do sexo masculino, 74,1% com escolaridade primária completa ou incompleta, com média de idade de 38 anos (± 7,6) e tempo médio de exposição de 11,8 anos (± 6,7). Quanto ao tabagismo, 126 (41,3%) eram fumantes, 76 (24,9%) ex-fumantes e 103 (33,8%) não fumantes. Os trabalhadores expostos foram divididos em quatro setores de trabalho em função dos riscos específicos de sua exposição ocupacional. A avaliação ambiental mostrou a presença de sílica livre, fluoretos e amônia gasosos, em concentrações acima dos limites de tolerância. Detectaram-se 30,5% de trabalhadores expostos com tosse, 14,7% com tosse crônica, 8,5% com bronquite crônica, 43,3% com rinite e 35,4% com conjuntivite. Após o ajuste para tabagismo, através de análise multivariada, manteve-se a significância para a tosse como um todo, para rinite e conjuntivite. Nos indivíduos expostos não foram encontradas alterações radiográficas compatíveis com pneumoconiose e a maioria deles apresentou provas de função pulmonar normais, não diferentes dos controles

Sintomas respiratórios em trabalhadores de carvoarias nos municípios de Lindolfo Collor, Ivoti e Presidente Lucena, RS

“…(6) In the present study, allergic rhinitis was observed in 6 (9%) of the 67 workers investigated, and occupational rhinitis was observed in 14 (20.9%). This is lower than the prevalence found in the study involving fertilizer production workers in the city of Rio Grande, Brazil (43.3%), (8) and lower than that found in a study involving bakers in Europe (40.2%). (12) In the present study, 3 of the 67 workers (4.47%) had been clinically diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, a rate that was lower than that found in the study involving fertilizer production workers in the city of Rio Grande, Brazil (8.5%), (8) and lower than that found in the study involving farm workers in France (12%).…”

“…This is lower than the prevalence found in the study involving fertilizer production workers in the city of Rio Grande, Brazil (43.3%), (8) and lower than that found in a study involving bakers in Europe (40.2%). (12) In the present study, 3 of the 67 workers (4.47%) had been clinically diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, a rate that was lower than that found in the study involving fertilizer production workers in the city of Rio Grande, Brazil (8.5%), (8) and lower than that found in the study involving farm workers in France (12%). (10) In the present study, COPD was found in 5.97% of the sample, a prevalence that was lower than being more common in firefighters who smoked than in those who did not.…”

“…Another study investigating a sample of workers exposed to smoke at work (wildland firefighters in Canada) reported that cough occurred in 24.4% of the sample. (7) In the present study, cough was observed in 22.38% of the charcoal production workers, a prevalence lower than the 30.50% found among fertilizer production workers in the city of Rio Grande, also located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, (8) and far lower than the 73% found among pig farmers in the city of Braço do Norte, which is in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. (6) Chronic cough, defined as cough that persists for three weeks or more, was observed in only 5 (7.46%) of the charcoal production workers evaluated in our study.…”

“…(6) Chronic cough, defined as cough that persists for three weeks or more, was observed in only 5 (7.46%) of the charcoal production workers evaluated in our study. This symptom, defined in the same way, was found in 14.7% of the fertilizer production workers in the city of Rio Grande, (8) and in 23.6% of the pig farmers in the city of Braço do Norte. (6) A study conducted in Canada and involving grain workers reported chronic cough in 28.8% of the individuals analyzed.…”

“…This result was similar to that of a study involving fertilizer production workers, in which it was demonstrated that the pulmonary function of smoking workers was significantly lower than was that of nonsmoking workers. (8) Nasal obstruction was more common in charcoal workers who lived within 200 m of the kilns than in those who lived farther from the kilns (p < 0.05). Since the concentration of particles was not measured, this might be a random finding, which indicates the need for further research in this area.…”