ABSTRACT
Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been produced for almost a century and some of them are still used, even after they have been proved to be toxic, persistent, bioaccumulative and prone to long-range transport. Brazil has used and produced pesticides in industrial scales for both agricultural and public health purposes. Urban and industrial regions are of special concern due to their high population density and their increased exposure to chemical pollution, many times enhanced by chemical production, application or irregular dumping. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the occurrence of OCPs in outdoor air of urban sites from two major regions of southeast Brazil. Some of these sites have been affected by OCP production and their irregular dumping. Deterministic and probabilistic inhalation cancer risk (CR) assessments were conducted for the human populations exposed to OCPs in ambient air. Ambient air was mainly affected by Æ©-HCH (median = 340 pg m-3) and Æ©-DDT (median = 233 pg m-3), the only two OCPs registered for domissanitary purposes in Brazil. OCP concentrations tended to be higher in summer than in winter. Dumping sites resulted in the highest OCP atmospheric concentrations and, thus, in the highest CR estimations. Despite of all limitations, probabilistic simulations suggested that people living in the studied regions are exposed to an increased risk of hepatic cancer. Infants and toddlers (0 < 2 y) were exposed to the highest inhalation CRs compared to other age groups. Other exposure pathways (such as ingestion and dermic uptake) are needed for a more comprehensive risk assessment. Moreover, this study also highlights the need to review the human exposure to OCPs through inhalation and their respective CR in other impacted areas worldwide, especially where high levels of OCPs are still being measured.
Subject(s)
Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated , Neoplasms , Pesticides , Brazil , Child, Preschool , Environmental Monitoring , Humans , Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated/analysis , Pesticides/analysisABSTRACT
The Santos and São Vicente Estuary has suffered extensively over the years from irregular industrial deposits. The present study aimed to evaluate liver disease prevalence and potential associated risk factors in four of the Estuary's areas (Pilões and Água-Fria, Cubatão Center, Continental São Vicente, and Guarujá) and a reference area (Bertioga). This study consisted of a cross-sectional study design, in which a questionnaire was used to collect information in 820 households at each of the study areas. The proportion of total liver diseases, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer (liver, biliary tract, and pancreas) per area were estimated. Pearson's chi-square test and two proportion differences test were applied in order to evaluate associations between disease occurrence and areas and to test differences between two proportions, respectively. Single and multiple logistic regression models were applied to assess associations between disease prevalence and the different study areas. Liver disease prevalence was 1.5 % among all inhabitants and 1.4 % among those without any type of exposure. Among those who reported the presence of liver disease, a higher percentage of the participants that reported hepatitis (27.7 %) or other liver disease (48.7 %) did not report occupational or alcohol exposures. Hepatitis (77.8 %) was the most reported disease, and a statistical association between living in Pilões and Água-Fria and the occurrence of hepatitis was observed (Pearson's χ (2): z = 18.1; p = 0.001). The consumption of locally-produced groceries (2.88; CI: 1.24-6.70) and water (5.88; CI: 2.24-15.45) were shown to be risk factors for the occurrence of liver disease. Thus, environmental exposure is still a public health problem present in the estuary region.
Subject(s)
Estuaries , Liver Diseases/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Brazil/epidemiology , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Environmental Exposure/analysis , Female , Humans , Liver Diseases/etiology , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Water Pollutants/toxicity , Young AdultABSTRACT
A região do Estuário de Santos e São Vicente é alvo da ocupação desordenada e degradação ambiental em decorrência do despejo de toneladas de resíduos tóxicos produzidos por empresas do pólo industrial de Cubatão que contaminam rios, solo, fauna e a população estabelecida próxima a estes depósitos industriais irregulares. O fígado é um dos órgãos que podem ser afetados por estes contaminantes, pois é o local de neutralização de substâncias tóxicas. Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar prevalência de doenças do fígado e alterações nas enzimas hepáticas bem como indicadores de exposição a poluentes químicos em áreas contaminadas do Estuário de Santos e São Vicente e é parte de um projeto financiado pelo CNPq. Foi adotado o desenho transversal e foram selecionados 820 domicílios em cada uma das quatro áreas do Estuário (Pilões e Água-Fria, Cubatão Centro, São Vicente Continental e Guarujá) e em uma área localizada fora do Estuário (Bertioga). Na primeira fase foi realizado um inquérito de morbidade referida nas áreas selecionadas. O instrumento de coleta de informações foi um questionário estruturado e prétestado. Foram estimadas as proporções das doenças do fígado, hepatite, cirrose e câncer de fígado e vias biliares por área, a associação entre desfechos e áreas e diferenças entre proporções. Foram realizados modelos de regressão logística para investigação de possíveis fatores de risco para as doenças hepáticas. Na segunda fase, em uma amostra dos participantes da primeira fase, foram feitas sorologias para hepatites B e C e dosados os níveis séricos de alanina aminotransferase (ALT ou TGP), mercúrio e chumbo. Modelos de regressão logística foram usados para estimar fatores de risco para alterações enzimáticas. Foi avaliada a associação entre alterações nos níveis da enzima hepática e os níveis de chumbo e mercúrio no sangue. A prevalência de doenças do fígado entre todos os entrevistados foi de 1.5% e de 1.4% entre os sem exposição...
The Santos and Sao Vicente estuary region is the scene of unplanned occupation and environmental degradation due to the dumping of toxic waste tons produced by companies in the industrial hub of Cubatão that contaminate rivers, soil, fauna and people close to these irregular industrial deposits. The liver is an organ that may be affected by these contaminants once it is the local for neutralization of toxic substances. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of liver disease and abnormal liver enzymes as well as indicators of exposure to chemical pollutants in contaminated areas of the estuary of Santos and São Vicente and is part of a project financed by CNPq. It was adopted a cross sectional design and were selected 820 households in each of the four areas of the estuary (Pilões Água Fria, Cubatão Center, Continental São Vicente and Guarujá) and 820 households in an area outside the estuary (Bertioga). In the first phase a survey of referred morbidity was carried out in the selected areas. The information collection instrument was a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. We estimated the proportions of liver disease, hepatitis, cirrhosis and cancer of both liver and biliary tract by area, the association between outcomes and areas and differences between proportions. We performed logistic regression models to investigate possible risk factors for liver disease. In the second phase, in a sample of participants from the first phase, we carried out hepatitis serology (B and C) and measured serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT), mercury, and lead. Logistic regression models were used to estimate risk factors for enzyme abnormal levels. We evaluated the association between changes in liver enzyme levels and blood lead and mercury levels. The prevalence of liver disease among all respondents was 1.5% and 1.4% among those without exposure to chemicals and alcohol...
