QUESTIONNAIRES FOR PEOPLE EXPOSED TO CHEMICAL AGENTS (QEAQS) AN INNOVATIVE TOOL FOR ASSESSING MINERS EXPOSED TO CRYSTALLINE SILICA.

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QUESTIONNAIRES FOR PEOPLE EXPOSED TO CHEMICAL AGENTS (QEAQS) AN INNOVATIVE TOOL FOR ASSESSING MINERS EXPOSED TO CRYSTALLINE SILICA.
Laura Brugalli¹; Isadora Arend ¹; Ingrid M. Flesch¹; Lucas V. Augsten¹; Gabriel P. Viçozzi¹; Solange Cristina Garcia¹
¹ Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX), Departamento de Análise, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
INTRODUCTION: Mining is a work activity considered to pose a high risk to workers due to possible physical damage to health and also chronic exposure to chemical agents such as crystalline silica and dust. In the long term, these end up harming the health of the worker and increasing the risk of developing lung diseases such as silicosis and pulmonary fibrosis. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the use of PPE by miners occupationally exposed to crystalline silica. METHODOLOGY: This study was approved by the CAAE of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, nº 53706121.6.1001.5347. The study included a group of miners (ME) occupationally exposed to crystalline silica (N=30). Questionnaires were conducted on lifestyle habits and biological material collections such as blood and urine for laboratory analysis of microalbuminuria and creatinine, which were performed using commercial kits and a semi-automated biochemical analyzer BS120. Andurinary silica by ICP/MS. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that there were no changes in the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio or urinary silicon, and there was no distinction between renal alterations or the degree of exposure to crystalline silica. Of the 30 miners, only 4 reported the correct use of all protective equipment such as masks, helmets, and gloves and worked in places with air recirculation; 26 miners reported not using protective equipment despite their workplace not having adequate air circulation. Therefore, this preliminary work demonstrated that the use of the application is a quick and efficient way to obtain data through questionnaires. That most miners do not use PPE, despite pulmonary fibrosis being an incurable and high-risk disease for those exposed without the use of PPE. No renal alterations were demonstrated by the routine laboratory tests performed, and the quantification of urinary silicon did not prove promising to distinguish differences in those occupationally exposed to crystalline silica, requiring additional studies.