Impact of working conditions in burned sugar cane cutting in pulmonary, systemic and renal function inflammatory markers

Abstract

The work in conditions of physical and thermal overload added to exposure to pollutants that involves thousands of workers in several activities, has been most studied in activities in sugar cane cutting. Reports of sudden deaths for unclear reasons, studies showing alterations in pulmonary function, mucociliary clearance, cardiovascular and neoplastic markers risk have been published in the past years. A pilot study from our group also showed effect on renal function, which may help understanding the findings of epidemiological studies conducted in countries of Central America, where it has been observed an epidemic chronic renal failure in sugar cane cutters. The hypotheses suggest combined effects of dehydration, thermal overload, rhabdomyolysis and exposure to pollutants, but no study has provided adequate evidence for biological plausibility. The present study aims to evaluate the impact of working conditions on pulmonary, systemic and renal function inflammatory markers in workers engaged in burned sugar cane cutting.60 workers will be evaluated once before and twice during sugar cane harvest, with pre-and post-measures in daily working hours, in order to assess subacute / chronic effect (pre-harvest x harvest) and acute (pre-and post-workday). Pulmonary, systemic and renal function inflammatory markers in blood and urine samples will be investigated before and during harvest. Measurements of pollutant and climate concentrations will be conducted concomitantly with the clinical and laboratory evaluations. (AU)