[Respiratory symptoms in charcoal production workers in the cities of Lindolfo Collor, Ivoti and Presidente Lucena, Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and smoking, as well as pulmonary function parameters among charcoal production workers in three cities in southern Brazil.


METHODS
This was an observational study including 67 individuals. Data were obtained by means of interviews and spirometry.


RESULTS
Of the 67 workers, 50 (75.0%) were male; mean age, 46.52 +/- 13.25 years; mean BMI, 25.7 +/- 3.85 kg/m(2); FEV1, 3.24 +/- 0.82 L (93.2 +/- 16.0% of predicted); FVC, 4.02 +/- 0.92 L (95.5 +/- 14.3% of predicted); and FEV1/FVC, 80.31 +/- 9.82. The most common upper airway symptoms were sneezing and nasal secretion-in 24 workers (35.82%)-whereas the most common lower airway symptom was cough-in 15 (22.38%).Of the 67 workers, 21 (31.34%) were smokers. In comparison with the nonsmokers, the smokers more often presented with cough (OR = 5.00; p = 0.01), nasal obstruction (OR = 3.50; p = 0.03), nasal itching (OR = 8.80; p = 0.01) and wheezing (OR = 10.0; p = 0.03), as well as presenting with lower FEV1 values (2.93 +/- 0.80 vs. 3.38 +/- 0.80 L; p = 0.04). We detected occupational rhinitis in 14 workers (20.85%), asthma in 4 (5.97%) and COPD in 4 (5.97%).


CONCLUSIONS
Respiratory symptoms and airflow reduction were more common in the smoking workers. Controlling the progression of the pyrolysis did not increase the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the charcoal production workers studied.
Souza
Rafael Machado de
RM
Centro Universitário Feevale, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brasil.
Andrade
Fabiana Michelsen de
FM
Moura
Angela Beatrice Dewes
AB
Teixeira
Paulo José Zimermann
PJ
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002606:Charcoal; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D012906:Smoke; D002606:Charcoal