Health promotion in the workplace: pneumoconiosis

Abstract

Pneumoconiosis corresponds to a group of diseases that develop with a chronic fibrous reaction of the lungs due to the inhalation of dust. They are especially marked by loss of expandability, fibrosis and pigmentation and can be given several names depending on the dust inhaled. The multiplicity of industrial and extractive activities in Brazil results from a high number of workers exposed to the risk of developing pneumoconiosis. It is a professional disease (technopathy) triggered by the exercise of work peculiar to a certain activity. This category of disease can only be prevented by adopting control measures, especially engineering or environmental measures. In order to understand the magnitude of the problem and trigger surveillance actions, notification of the event to the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) is essential. In this work, data on pneumoconiosis in Brazil, reported to SINAN, between 2014 and 2018 were collected. An annual average of 161 cases was found, 2017 being the year in which the disease most occurred, representing 77% of the total. Pneumoconiosis usually affects men (94.03%), between 40 and 59 years of age (44.44%), illiterate (90.22%) and who are registered employees (85.90%). The occupation most frequently affected was that of a construction worker (41.63%). However, when the cases were classified according to economic activities, the most found was the manufacture of concrete, cement, fiber cement, plaster and stucco products (85.74%). Regarding the disease itself, 81.43% of cases were reported as pleural plaques, which represent the most frequent manifestation of exposure to asbestos. Asbestosis represented 5.31% of the cases and silicosis 5.14%. 89.39% of the total cases were reported by the Reference Centers in Occupational Health (Cerest). Pneumoconiosis are serious diseases that require intensive treatment and follow-up. Preventive measures and early diagnosis/treatment must be adopted through strict surveillance of workers' health and safety conditions.