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Silicosis in brazilian pit diggers: Relationship between dust exposure and radiologic findings
Author(s) -
Holanda Márcia Alcǎntara,
Holanda Marcelo Alcǎntara,
Felismino Pedro Henrique,
Pinheiro Valéria Góes Ferreira
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700270306
Subject(s) - silicosis , medicine , incidence (geometry) , environmental health , pathology , optics , physics
The incidental diagnosis of two cases of silicosis at Messejana Hospital, Fortaleza, capital of Ceará state, triggered a field research conducted with the objective of investigating the incidence of silicosis in pit diggers in four towns in the Ibiapaba Mountain Range, at the state's northwestern area, northeastern Brazil. Out of a universe of 1,050 pit diggers in the area, 366 participated in the study; they were all males ranging in age between 16 and 76 years old (average 39 years). The excavation and the sickening process were described and a dust exposure index in pit diggers (DEIPD) was defined. The study sample indicated a rate of 121 (33.06%) silicotics and possibly silicotics. The radiologic findings were related to the DEIPD and indicated significant prevalence of disease. Furthermore, during the research period, from 1986 to 1989, 30 (34.9%) silicotics died of respiratory failure and wasting of body tissues. The data suggested that these men were afflicted with a severe occupational health problem, possibly scattered throughout a large area in northeastern Brazil, where manual pit excavations occur during the whole year and increase during drought periods.