Impact of working conditions on the cutting of sugarcane burning in pulmonary, systemic inflammatory markers and renal function

INTRODUCTION: The manual sugarcane harvesting is an activity that requires considerable physical exertion, involves vigorous, quick, repetitive cutting movements. They work under conditions of high temperatures and low relative air humidity that, with the use of clothing, increases the risk of thermal overload, as well as expose themselves to the pollutants from burning of sugarcane. AIM: To evaluate the short and long-term effects of harvesting burnt sugarcane on the CC16 protein concentrations, renal function, and systemic inflammatory markers in a group of sugarcane cutters. METHODS: A total of 78 sugarcane cutters employed in a sugar-alcohol mill in the state of São Paulo, Brazil were evaluated. They underwent clinical evaluations and the collection of both blood and urine samples, used for analysis of pulmonary toxicity (CC16 protein), renal markers and systemic inflammatory markers performed at three different times throughout the year: 1) In the pre-harvest period (April 2014), at the onset of the working shift (7h00 am); 2) Three months after the onset of the harvest, before and after the daily work shift (7h00 a.m. and 4h00 p.m.); 3) Six months after the onset of the harvest, before the work shift (7h00 am). The concentrations of particulate matter (MP2.5), temperature and relative air humidity were recorded. RESULTS: The concentrations of PM2.5 were 27.0 (23.0-33.0) and 101.0 (31.0-139.5) ?g/m3 in the pre-harvest and harvest periods, respectively. The medians temperature and relative air humidity in the pre-harvest period were 32.6 (25.4-37.4) °C and 45.4 (35.0-59.7) % respectively; in the harvest period were 29.7 (24.1-34.0) °C and 54.9 (34.7-63.2) % respectively. The age of the workers was 37.9 ± 11.0 years, they cut, on average, nine tons of sugarcane/day. Short and long-term reductions in plasmatic and urinary concentrations of CC16 protein were observed. There was an acute increase in the concentrations of markers suggestive of dehydration, decreased glomerular filtration, increased biomarkers of injury and renal tubular repair (NGAL, KIM-1, IL-18, calbindin, MCP-1, osteopontin, and TFF-3 ) and increased systemic inflammatory markers (leukocytes, uric acid, DHL). Six months after the onset of the harvest, a significant increase of cystatin C, urea, CPK, NGAL and monocytes in the blood and urinary markers such as NGAL, MCP-1, TFF-3, phosphorus, magnesium and density were observed. CONCLUSION: The manual sugarcane harvesting exposes workers to physical overload, pollutants and high temperatures. It was observed an acute and chronic effects in the concentrations of CC16 protein, in systemic inflammatory biomarkers, hydroelectrolytic balance and renal function, including changes in markers that suggest renal structural damage (AU)