The Impact of Sugar Cane–Burning Emissions on the Respiratory System of Children and the Elderly

Abstract

We analyzed the influence of emissions from burning sugar cane on the respiratory system during almost 1 year in the city of Piracicaba in southeast Brazil. From April 1997 through March 1998, samples of inhalable particles were collected, separated into fine and coarse particulate mode, and analyzed for black carbon and tracer elements. At the same time, we examined daily records of children (< 13 years of age) and elderly people (> 64 years of age) admitted to the hospital because of respiratory diseases. Generalized linear models were adopted with natural cubic splines to control for season and linear terms to control for weather. Analyses were carried out for the entire period, as well as for burning and nonburning periods. Additional models were built using three factors obtained from factor analysis instead of particles or tracer elements. Increases of 10.2 μg/m3 in particles ≥ 2.5 μm/m3 aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) and 42.9 μg/m3 in PM10 were associated with increases of 21.4% [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.3–38.5] and 31.03% (95% CI, 1.25–60.21) in child and elderly respiratory hospital admissions, respectively. When we compared periods, the effects during the burning period were much higher than the effects during nonburning period. Elements generated from sugar cane burning (factor 1) were those most associated with both child and elderly respiratory admissions. Our results show the adverse impact of sugar cane burning emissions on the health of the population, reinforcing the need for public efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate this source of air pollution.

A systematic review of the physical and chemical characteristics of pollutants from biomass burning and combustion of fossil fuels and health effects in Brazil

“…Ninety articles (66%) deal with the adverse respiratory effects of air pollution of which 54 (60%) were selected 21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,…”

Stalk and sucrose yield in response to nitrogen fertilization of sugarcane under reduced tillage

“…Green cane management or harvesting without burning is a current practice in producing countries worldwide used to reduce environmental impacts and to prevent respiratory illnesses related to airborne ash particles in surrounding neighborhoods (Cançado et al, 2006). This cropping method preserves 5 to 20 Mg ha -1 of crop residues (dry leaves, tops, and previous crop ratoons) on soil surface, which comprise an important source of carbon and nutrients that can potentially increase sugarcane lifespan and yields due to the reduction of N losses throughout the soil-plant system Vitti et al, 2007;Hemwong et al, 2009).…”

Impacto de un sitio de disposición final de residuos sólidos en la salud respiratoria de los adultos mayores

“…La presencia de síntomas respiratorios también se encontró asociada a otros factores descritos en la literatura científica, como factores de riesgo para la presencia de enfermedad respiratoria en la población adulta mayor, como son la edad, el sexo (29,30), el consumo de cigarrillo (31,32), la humedad en la vivienda (33)(34)(35)(36), la condición socioeconómica (37)(38)(39)(40), la afiliación a la seguridad social, la presencia de enfermedades concomitantes y otras fuentes de contaminación atmosférica como la ocupacional (41,42) y la cercanía a cultivos de caña de azúcar, que son quemados para su cosecha (43).…”