Occupational exposure to carcinogens in Brazil: An approach

Abstract

This study aims to estimate the prevalence of the primary occupational exposures, considered risk factors for Cancer in Brazil. We elaborated two exposure scenarios considering the agents' classification and the intensity of exposure, stratified by Brazilian regions and sex. Two pairs of specialists performed the classification of economic activities and occupations due to exposure. There was an excellent overall agreement (94%) and acceptable overall reliability (kappa 0.92, 95% CI 0.89–0.95). There is a notable difference (595%) in occupational exposure between the north (with a higher concentration of rural areas and extractivism) and southeast (with a higher level of industrial activities). There is a difference in prevalence from 833% for solvents to 1170% for inorganic dust between the two scenarios. There is a heterogeneity of exposures according to location, sex, circumstance, and sensitiveness of classification.

Keywords:

• Brazil
• epidemiology
• neoplasms
• occupational health
• prevalence