Sugarcane Workers Research Articles

Health Belief Model and Behavioural Usage of Respiratory Protective Equipment among Sugarcane Workers in Northeast of Thailand: A Cross-sectional Analytical Study

Health Belief Model and Behavioural Usage of Respiratory Protective Equipment among Sugarcane Workers in Northeast of Thailand: A Cross-sectional Analytical Study

Risk Factors and Mechanisms Underlying Cross-Shift Decline in Kidney Function in Guatemalan Sugarcane Workers.

Identify early biomarkers and mechanisms of acute kidney injury in workers at risk of developing chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu). We assessed cross-shift changes in kidney function and biomarkers of injury in 105 healthy sugarcane workers. We obtained pre-harvest clinical data as well as daily environmental, clinical, and productivity data for each worker. The average percent decline in cross-shift estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 21.8% (standard deviation [SD] 13.6%). Increasing wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), high uric acid, decreased urine pH, urinary leukocyte esterase, and serum hyperosmolality were risk factors for decline in kidney function. Sugarcane workers with normal kidney function experience recurrent subclinical kidney injury, associated with elevations in biomarkers of injury that suggest exposure to high temperatures and extreme physical demands.

The impact of heat and impaired kidney function on productivity of Guatemalan sugarcane workers.

BackgroundClimate change has implications for human health and productivity. Models suggest that heat extremes affect worker health, reduce labor capacity, and commodity supply. Chronic health conditions are on the rise internationally. However there is a paucity of direct empirical evidence relating increasing temperatures to both agricultural worker health and productivity.Methods and findingsWe evaluated the relationship between temperature exposure, kidney function, and two measures of productivity—tons of commodity produced and job attrition, of 4,095 Guatemalan sugarcane cutters over a 6-month harvest. We used distributed lag non-linear models to evaluate associations between wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and productivity of workers with normal or impaired kidney function. The cumulative effect of exposure to a max WBGT of 34°C was 1.16 tons (95% CI: -2.87, 0.54) less sugarcane cut over the next five days by workers with impaired kidney function, compared to exposure to 29°C. Impaired kidney function was associated with premature workforce attrition. Workers starting the harvest season with impaired kidney function were more than twice as likely to leave employment (HR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.88, 4.32).ConclusionsHeat extremes may be associated with loss of agricultural worker productivity and employment, especially among those with impaired kidney function. Agricultural workers who develop health conditions, such as kidney disease, are particularly vulnerable in the face of climate change and increasing heat extremes. The resultant loss of employment and productivity has significant implications for global commodity supplies.

Unadjusted point of care creatinine results overestimate acute kidney injury incidence during field testing in Guatemala.

ObjectiveAcute kidney injury (AKI) occurs at high rates among agricultural workers (12–33%) in tropical environments. Because of the remote locations affected, traditional laboratory services are often unavailable. In this study we compare point of care (POC) creatinine values to standardized laboratory values, and examine the effect of POC testing on the interpretation of AKI rates under tropical field conditions.MethodsBlood samples were collected from 104 sugarcane workers from two time points in January 2018 as a derivation cohort, and from 105 workers from February to April 2017 as a validation cohort. Finger stick and venipuncture samples were drawn at the end of a worker’s shift to measure creatinine. Laboratory samples were tested in Guatemala City, Guatemala, in duplicate using the Jaffe Generation 2 method. An adjustment factor to improve agreement with serum creatinine was statistically derived and validated, and then used to determine impact on observed rates of acute kidney injury based on across shift changes in creatinine.ResultsPOC creatinine and serum creatinine measures showed that POC consistently overestimated the creatinine by an average of 22% (95% CI: 19.8%, 24.7%) and the disagreement appeared greater at higher values of serum creatinine. An adjustment factor of 0.7775 was applied, which led to significantly greater agreement between the two measures. Rates of AKI in the two combined groups fell from 72% before adjustment to 57% afterwards.ConclusionsPOC testing under tropical field conditions routinely overestimates creatinine compared to laboratory testing, which leads to overestimation of rates of acute kidney injury. The application of an adjustment factor significantly improved the accuracy of the POC value.

Longitudinal Study of Workers in El Salvador & Nicaragua: Opportunities for Collaboration

The causes of the epidemic of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Central America, referred to as Mesoamerican Nephropathy (MeN), or CKD of non-traditional etiology (CKDnt), are unknown. Sugarcane workers in both El Salvador and Nicaragua are at high risk of developing the disease. However, the disease is not unique to sugarcane, nor is it limited to agricultural workers. The disease is also known to affect men of working age engaged in other sectors involving manual labor. An ongoing longitudinal study in both countries of workers in sugarcane, corn, plantain and construction will measure exposure to heat as well as a variety of nephrotoxicants including pesticides and metals. The MesoAmerican Nephropathy Occupational Study (MANOS) will include a short-term exposure assessment characterizing occupational risk factors and baseline health status, and follow workers over time to monitor long-term kidney function. The presentation will emphasize aspects of the study design that allow for analyses of multiple exposures and end points, and opportunities for collaboration.

Sugarcane cutting work, risks, and health effects: a literature review.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE Describe the main work risks for sugarcane cutters and their effects on workers’ health.METHODS Critical review of articles, with bibliographic research carried out in the PubMed, SciELO Medline, and Lilacs databases. The following keywords were used: sugarcane workers, sugarcane cutters, sugarcane harvesting, cortadores de cana-de-açú car , and colheita de cana -de-açúcar . The inclusion criteria were articles published between January 1997 and June 2017, which evaluated working conditions and health effects on sugarcane cutters. Those that did not deal with the work impact of cutting burned and unburnt sugarcane in the cutter’s health were excluded. The final group of manuscripts was selected by the lead author of this study and reviewed by a co-author. Disagreements were resolved by consensus using the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and, where necessary, the final decision was made by consulting a third co-author.RESULTS From the 89 articles found, 52 met the selection criteria and were evaluated. Studies have shown that cutters work under conditions of physical and mental overload, thermal overload, exposure to pollutants, and are subject to accidents. The main effects observed were respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, musculoskeletal, heat stress, dehydration, genotoxic, and those due to accidents.CONCLUSIONS Work on the manual cutting of sugarcane, especially of burned sugarcane, exposes workers to various risks, with different health impacts. Risk reduction for exposure to pollution and thermal and physical overload is required as a measure to preserve the health of the worker.

Social Justice as Epidemic Control: Two Latin American Case Studies

ABSTRACTIn this article, we draw on two cases—one of the reproductive justice movements in the wake of the Latin American Zika epidemic, and one of an environmental justice movements spurred by an epidemic of chronic kidney disease among sugarcane workers—to argue for social justice as an “elastic” technology of epidemic control. In its compressed form, social justice simply refers to the fair distribution of medical goods. In its expanded form, it emphasizes the recognition and representation not just of medical problems, but of entangled histories of racial, gendered, and economic inequity.

Acute Kidney Injury in Sugarcane Workers at Risk for Mesoamerican Nephropathy

Mesoamerican nephropathy (MeN), a form of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of unknown cause in Central America, affects young individuals working in physically strenuous occupations. Repeated episodes of work-related kidney injury may lead to CKD in this setting. We aimed to better understand the burden and natural history of acute kidney injury (AKI) in workers at risk for MeN. Cross-sectional study of active sugarcane workers, followed by prospective follow-up of individuals with AKI. 326 sugarcane workers with normal preharvest serum creatinine (Scr) values and no history of CKD in an MeN hotspot in Nicaragua near the end of the harvest, and prospective follow-up of workers with AKI. AKI during the harvest, as defined by Scr level increase≥ 0.3mg/dL over baseline to a level≥ 1.3mg/dL. Kidney function trajectory and development of CKD over 12 months. Linear regression models were used to analyze the association between job category and kidney function. For workers with AKI, the effect of time on Scr level was evaluated using linear mixed effects. 34 of 326 participants were found to have AKI, with a median late-harvest Scr level of 1.64mg/dL in the AKI group. Workers without AKI had a median Scr level of 0.88mg/dL. AKI was more common among cane cutters compared with other field workers. Participants with AKI had variable degrees of kidney function recovery, with median 6- and 12-month Scr values of 1.25 and 1.27mg/dL, respectively (P< 0.001 for each follow-up value compared to late-harvest Scr). When we compared workers' kidney function before the AKI episode to their kidney function at last follow-up, 10 participants with AKI developed de novo estimated glomerular filtration rate< 60mL/min/1.73m2 and 11 had a >30% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate. Follow-up limited to 1 year and some loss to follow-up in the prospective component of the study. Broad definition of AKI that includes both acute and subacute kidney injury. In a group of sugarcane workers with normal preharvest kidney function, newly decreased kidney function developing during the harvest season was common. Of those with kidneyinjury, nearly half had established CKD 12 months later.

Burnt sugarcane harvesting work: effects on pulmonary and systemic inflammatory markers

Objective: To evaluate the effects of burnt sugarcane harvesting on the plasmatic and urinary concentrations of the club cell secretory protein (CC16) and inflammatory systemic biomarkers in a group of sugarcane cutters.Methods: Seventy-eight sugar cane workers were evaluated. The plasmatic and urinary concentrations of CC16, a pulmonary damage marker and inflammatory systemic biomarkers were collected at three time points: before, three months after and six months after the onset of the burnt sugarcane harvesting period. All evaluations were performed at ∼7 am, before the daily work shift. In the three-month evaluation, a post-work shift assessment (acute effect) was also performed.Results: The age of the workers was 37.9 ± 11.0 years. The PM2.5 concentrations were 27.0 (23.0–33.0) and 101.0 (31.0–139.5) µg/m3 in the pre harvest and harvest periods, respectively (p < .001). Burnt sugarcane harvesting was associated with a reduction, throughout the work during burnt sugarcane harvesting (subchronic effect), in plasmatic and urinary CC16 concentrations. Acutely, there was a decrease in plasmatic concentrations. There were acute and subchronic increases in inflammatory markers (neutrophils, monocytes) and muscle damage markers (CK and LDH) and a decrease in red blood cells.Conclusions: Harvesting of burnt sugarcane was associated with acute and subchronic reductions in the plasmatic and urinary concentrations of CC16 protein and changes in systemic inflammatory markers.

Burnt sugarcane harvesting is associated with rhinitis symptoms and inflammatory markers

IntroductionBurnt sugarcane harvesting requires intense physical exertion in an environment of high temperature and exposure to particulate matter. ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of burnt sugarcane harvesting on rhinitis symptoms and inflammatory markers in sugarcane workers. MethodsA total of 32 male sugarcane workers were evaluated with questionnaire for rhinitis symptoms, and for inflammatory markers on peripheral blood and nasal lavage, in the non-harvesting, and 3 and 6 months into the sugarcane harvesting period. Weather data and particulate matter fine concentrations were measured in the same day. ResultsThe particulate matter concentrations in sugarcane harvesting were 27 (23–33μg/m3), 112 (96–122μg/m3), and 63 (17–263μg/m3); 24h temperatures were 32.6 (25.4–37.4°C), 32.3 (26.7–36.7°C) and 29.7 (24.1–34.0°C) and relative humidities were 45.4 (35.0–59.7%), 47.9 (39.1–63.0%), and 59.9 (34.7–63.2%) in the non-harvesting period, three and 6 months of the harvesting period. The age was 37.4±10.9 years. The prevalence of rhinitis symptoms was significantly higher at 3 months of the harvesting period (53.4%), compared to non-harvesting period (26.7%; p=0.039) and at 6 months into the harvesting period (20%; p=0.006). Concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in nasal lavage increased after 3 months of the harvesting period compared to the non-harvesting period (p=0.012). The presence of rhinitis symptoms, after 3 months of the harvesting period, was directly associated with blood eosinophils and inversely associated with neutrophils. ConclusionsAfter 3 months of work in burnt sugarcane harvesting the prevalence of rhinitis symptoms and IL-6 in nasal lavage increased. Furthermore, eosinophil counts were directly associated with the rhinitis symptoms in the period of higher concentration of particulate matter.

Cross‐shift Body Mass Change and Associated Health Outcomes Related to Chronic Kidney Disease in Sugarcane Workers in Guatemala

A new form of kidney disease, chronic kidney disease of an unknown origin (CKDu), has developed in Central America and other parts of the world. One group that is disproportionately affected are sugarcane workers potentially because of chronic dehydration and exercise heat stress.PURPOSEThe aim was to evaluate if changes in kidney health outcomes for three groups of sugarcane workers [highland sugarcane cutters (HC), local sugarcane cutters (LC), production workers (PW)] were related to the frequency of cross‐shift body mass change (&gt; 1% of body mass = dehydrated, body mass loss of ≤ 1% = hydrated).METHODS418 male sugarcane workers (HC n = 137, 28 ± 7 y, 159 ± 1 cm, 58.5 ± 6.0 kg, 0.88 ± 0.14 mg·dL‐1 whole blood creatinine (WBCr); LC n = 190, 32 ± 8 y, 161 ± 1 cm, 59.7 ± 8.4 kg, 0.92 ± 0.16 mg· dL‐1 WBCr; PW n = 91, 32 ± 11 y, 158 ± 1 cm, 60.1 ± 7.5 kg, 0.88 ± 0.16 mg· dL‐1 WBCr) participated in the study. The study included pre‐employment baseline data and three single day cross‐shift data collections. At each time point, bodyweight, a urine sample, and a point‐of‐care creatinine measure were collected from participants before and after work. Workers were not hired if they had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) &lt; 60 ml□min‐1□1.73m‐2. To evaluate chronic hydration status, workers were divided into four groups (pre‐ to post‐shift body mass loss &lt; 1% at three, two, one, or zero of the time points). One‐way ANOVAs comparing change in WBCr and eGFR were completed to evaluate pre‐ to post‐season change for the different groups of workers based on hydration status. Statistical significance was set at α &lt; .05.RESULTSThere was a significant difference among worker group season change in eGFR ml□min‐1□1.73m‐2 (HC 2.05 ± 1.5, LC −5.47 ± 1.3, PW −0.30 ± 1.9, F‐score = 7.6, P = &lt;0.01) There was a significant difference in change of WBCr from pre‐season to post‐season between worker groups (HC −0.07 ± 0.19, LC 0.03 ± 0.27, PW −0.04 ± 0.15, F‐score = 7.72, P = &lt;0.01). Thirteen participants developed an eGFR &lt;90 ml□min‐1□1.73m‐2 and two participants developed an eGFR &lt;60 ml□min‐1□1.73m‐2 during the season. Self‐reported water consumptions during the work shift at the first time point was 17.6 ± 5.0 L for HC, 14.8 ± 2.5 L for LC, and 4.9 ± 1.4 L for PW. Among each work group, there was no significant difference in change in eGFR between workers who were hydrated at 3, 2, 1, or 0 time points (HC F‐score = 0.09, P = 0.92; LC F‐score = 1.44, P = 0.23; PW F‐score =1.07, P = 0.37).CONCLUSIONSChronic hydration status based on frequency of cross‐shift body mass &gt;1% did not relate to workers' risk of developing kidney damage over the course of a 6‐month sugarcane harvest. Only 13 and 2 participants developed an eGFR &lt;90 and &lt;60 ml□min‐1□1.73m‐2, respectively, possibly indicating that drinking large amounts of water and not hiring workers with a pre‐season eGFR &lt; 60 ml□min‐1□1.73m‐2 may help prevent the development of CKDu. However, there are likely other contributing factors such as work intensity and/or lifestyle.Support or Funding InformationInvestigation funded by Colorado School of Public Health and PantaleonThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Risk Factors for Declines in Kidney Function in Sugarcane Workers in Guatemala.

Objectives:To characterize kidney function of sugarcane workers in Guatemala over the 6-month harvest and identify risk factors associated with changes in kidney function.Methods:Demographic and biological data were collected for 330 sugarcane cutters at the beginning and end of the harvest. Multivariable regression analyses were used to assess factors related to kidney function.Results:A decline in kidney function across the harvest was observed in 36% of the participants. Risk factors associated with this decline included working at a particular plantation mill, local area workers compared with highland workers, and current smokers.Conclusion:Results showed both occupational and behavioral factors play significant roles in declines in kidney function. These results underline the need for a comprehensive approach to the epidemic as well as further investigation of risk factors to guide research and interventions.

Chronic kidney disease in sugarcane workers in Cameroon: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAgricultural workers especially in sugarcane plantations have a high risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Little is known about CKD among sugarcane plantation workers in Cameroon. This study sought to evaluate the prevalence and identify factors associated with CKD in sugarcane plantation workers in Cameroon.MethodsWe conducted an analytic cross-sectional study including 204 adult workers at the sugarcane plantation complex in Mbandjock, Cameroon; over 500 m above sea level. Chronic kidney disease (proteinuria as estimated by urine dipstick analysis and/or estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 persistent after 3 months) was the outcome of interest. Those with abnormal results were seen again after 3 months to confirm the diagnosis. We evaluated the association between CKD and participant age, sex, contract-type, duration of employment, socio-economic status, workspace, exposure to agrochemicals, heavy metals and heat, selected risk factors and co-morbid conditions.ResultsThe overall prevalence of CKD was 3.4%. The factory workers were the most affected (7%), compared to the field (2.4%) and office workers (0%). 2.9% of the participants had persistent proteinuria, mild in every case, and 0.5% of them had an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Age ≥ 40 years was an independent predictor of CKD.ConclusionThe prevalence of CKD among employees of the Mbandjock sugarcane plantation is low, probably reflecting the preventive measures against heat stress and dehydration in place.

Is Glyphosate a Key Factor in Mesoamerican Nephropathy?

Mesoamerican nephropathy (MeN), also known as chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu), is an unusual form of kidney disease not associated with diabetes, hypertension, or glomerular nephritis. It has a number of known risk factors, none of which adequately explain the skyrocketing prevalence of the disease among sugarcane workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua. In this paper, we narrow the research focus from agricultural chemicals, in general, to glyphosate, in particular, an herbicide routinely used on sugarcane. We explain how glyphosate compellingly contributes to CKDu, by reviewing the evidence for glyphosate’s direct toxicity to kidneys and showing how the herbicide amplifies the damage to kidneys from other known risk factors. Using standard web search on index words and phrases, we gathered and perused a large collection of papers describing the pathology of MeN and associated metrics, on the one hand, and the mechanisms of toxicity of glyphosate in humans, animals and in in vitro studies, on the other hand. We show that glyphosate is used on sugarcane in three distinct ways, with exposure greatest when the herbicide is used as a ripener near harvest time. We identify several pathologies associated with MeN that have been found to be implicated in papers on glyphosate exposure, such as enhancing the growth of Clostridia species and fungus, promoting arsenic toxicity, suppressing the synthesis of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), disrupting fructose metabolism, and promoting dehydration and high serum urate. A companion paper explains how glyphosate’s substitution for glycine could cause additional renal damage. Together, these two papers strongly suggest that glyphosate is a causative agent in CKDu. Overall, the research literature provides compelling evidence that glyphosate exposure is a significant factor in MeN. Glyphosate usage on crops should be curtailed in order to protect the agricultural worker population from this devastating and life-threatening disease.

Potential of Ethanol Production Using Molasses Fermentation in a Sugar Plant

Due to globalization, privatization and liberalization; sugar industry has to face the domestic as well as international competition. Thus, for survival of the industry, cost effectiveness and economics of by-products become very vital. The aim of this work is to assess the potential, in the short term, for fuel ethanol production by using intermediate molasses in a sugar plant in central India. The by-product plant can support the existing plant to improve the general economy, financial viability, economic status of sugarcane growers and workers by way of paying higher prices for sugarcane crop and also create more employment opportunities in the rural areas by setting up industries based on sugarcane by-products. For assessing the amount of Ethanol production an experimental study has been carried out which find out the amount of ethanol production via fermentation process of molasses sample acquired from the plant. It gives more fine results as the quality of sugarcane changes from place to place.

Impact of climate change on occupational health and productivity: a systematic literature review focusing on workplace heat.

Background:With climate change, mean annual air temperatures are getting hotter and extreme weather events will become more and more common in most parts of the world.Objectives:As part of the EU funded project HEAT-SHIELD we conducted a systematic review to summarize the epidemiological evidence of the effects of global warming-related heat exposure on workers’ health and productivity.Methods:Three separate searches, focused, respectively, on: i) heat-related illness (HRI), cardiovascular, respiratory and kidney diseases; ii) traumatic injuries; and iii) vector-borne diseases or vectors distribution, were conducted in PubMed. EMBASE was also consulted to retrieve relevant studies focused on the health effects of climate change. A fourth search strategy to assess the effects on work productivity was conducted both in PubMed and in the SCOPUS database.Results:A significant proportion of studies reported findings regarding the Mesoamerican nephropathy issue. This is a disease occurring especially among young and middle-aged male sugarcane workers, without conventional risk factors for chronic kidney disease. For injuries, there is a reversed U-shaped exposure-response relationship between Tmax and overall daily injury claims. Outdoor workers are at increased risk of vector-borne infectious diseases, as a positive correlation between higher air temperatures and current or future expansion of the habitat of vectors is being observed. As for productivity, agriculture and construction are the most studied sectors; a day with temperatures exceeding 32°C can reduce daily labour supply in exposed sectors by up to 14%.Conclusions:The present findings should inform development of further research and related health policies in the EU and beyond with regard to protecting working people from the effects of workplace heat during climate change.

Glyphosate Substitution for Glycine During Protein Synthesis as a Causal Factor in Mesoamerican Nephropathy

Mesoamerican Nephropathy (MeN), also known as Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu), is an unusual form of kidney disease affecting agricultural workers in Central America. Its prevalence is alarmingly high among young male sugarcane workers in Nicaragua and El Salvador. The absence of known etiologies for CKD, such as hypertension and diabetes, has led researchers to explore a number of potential risk factors, though none adequately explain the timing and epidemic nature of the disease. In this paper, we explore the idea that glyphosate, an herbicide routinely used on sugarcane, could play a significant causal role in MeN, mediated by its property as an analogue of the coding amino acid glycine. Glyphosate is a glycine molecule with a methyl phosphonyl group attached to its nitrogen atom. Its substitution in place of glycine could disrupt multiple proteins critical for kidney health. Here, we first present prior evidence from the research literature that glyphosate may be substituting erroneously for glycine. In particular, multiple species of both bacteria and plants have mutated to remove a highly conserved glycine residue in the enzyme in the shikimate pathway that is disrupted by glyphosate, and this mutation has caused the enzyme to be completely insensitive to glyphosate. We have identified multiple proteins with key roles related to kidney function, whose disruption by glyphosate substitution for critical glycine residues could explain most of the unique features of MeN. Specifically, glycine substitution in aquaporin, chloride channels, cytochrome C oxidase and collagen, among others, could contribute to dehydration, increased urinary acidification, renal fibrosis, rhabdomyolysis and mitochondrial dysfunction. While the hypothesis that glyphosate could be disrupting protein synthesis is not yet proven, it is remarkable how well it explains multiple features of MeN. Investigations to verify whether glyphosate is in fact disrupting protein synthesis are urgently needed.

Prevalence of common mental disorders among sugarcane workers.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVETo estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders and to analyze the associated factors in migrant and sugarcane workers.METHODSThis is a cross-sectional study carried out with 110 workers. Common mental disorders were evaluated using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), and sociodemographic, occupational, and lifestyle variables were studied. The CAGE questionnaire was used to detect the abuse of alcoholic beverages.RESULTSThe prevalence of common mental disorders affected 40% of the workers and the association showed statistical significance for the positive result of the CAGE test, sickness, absence from work, and medical care during the harvest period.CONCLUSIONSThe suspected cases of problem drinkers and the control mechanisms used by the mill for workers who miss work or become ill are factors that can cause common mental disorders.

Sugarcane Workers in Search of Justice: Rural Labour through the Lens of the State

AbstractDrawing from case file records generated in rural labour courts in Brazil’s north-eastern state of Pernambuco between 1965 and 1982, this paper demonstrates how these forums reified class-based exploitation, even as they purportedly protected workers’ rights. The paper focuses on two districts in the state’s sugarcane-growing region, both of which reveal a clear pattern of inferior treatment for rural as opposed to non-rural workers. Interpreting the evidence as a function of long-term patterns of social and economic relations in the region, the paper also sets this case in a larger context of rural labour history around the world.

Talking Pretty and Kicking Up Dust: Modernity and Tradition in Maracatu de Baque Solto of Pernambuco

This article looks at the dynamic relationship between modernity and tradition in maracatu de baque solto, a regional music associated with sugarcane workers in the Mata Norte region of Pernambuco, Brazil. Changes in the way the poet-singers (mestres) view their own practice and the history of their art form reflect transformations in the rural areas, innovation in techniques and approaches, and shifting dynamics between maracatu and its interlocutors. The maracatu community is currently negotiating complex and dynamic relationships with cultural programmers and entrepreneurs in which singers reconfigure their participatory tradition for presentational settings. Drawing on three years of ethnographic and historical fieldwork, I pose questions about the limits and possibilities of maracatu’s own strategic and unorthodox uses of the dominant discourses surrounding folklore and popular culture in Northeast Brazil.