Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: CELSO BERILO CIDADE CAVALCANTI

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : CELSO BERILO CIDADE CAVALCANTI
DATE: 17/03/2026
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: Sala de Pós graduação da Faculdade de Medicina
TITLE:

Exposure assessment of firefighters to smoke when fighting forest fires

KEY WORDS:

benzene; worker health; SPMA; TTMA

PAGES: 100
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Saúde Coletiva
SUMMARY:

This study encompassed occupational exposures of oil workers in the Federal District (DF) to benzene at two fuel terminals (TECOM) and two fuel retail stations (PRC). The novelty lies in the quantification of benzene vapors in exposed and control groups using pre-exposure and post-exposure samples of the biological indicators TTMA and SPAM in the Cerrado biome in the Central-West region, with defined rainy and dry seasons, relative humidity below 40%, and all this at an altitude of one thousand meters above sea level. A risk perception questionnaire was applied, collecting sociodemographic data, occupational history, physical characteristics, health history, and adherence to PPE. The oil workers underwent medical and complementary examinations as recommended by the Ministry of Health for the study of benzene poisoning. An air-collecting pump was attached to the worker's waist, and in the breathing zone there was an activated carbon tube (ACT) that adsorbs benzene vapors, according to NIOSH 1501. The ACTS were sent to a chemical laboratory in São Paulo, and the urine samples were delivered to the Sabin Laboratory, which sponsored the research. The São Paulo laboratory analyzed the benzene concentration in ppm, and the Sabin laboratory analyzed the SPMA and TTMA in µg/g creatinine in order to normalize the different sample volumes. There was a control group (CG) not exposed to benzene who worked in a call center, who also provided urine samples combined with benzene evaluation. All results obtained were statistically treated and confirmed the validity of the numbers for the analyses, comparisons, and conclusions. The following quantities of benzene samples were collected from: CG (N=30), TECOM (N=40), and PRC (N=59), and twice these quantities were collected from TTMA and SPMA pre- and post-exposure. The average exposure level (EL) at TECOM during the dry season was 0.1110 ppm and during the rainy season was 0.0110 ppm. PRC showed 0.0069 ppm during the dry season and 0.0029 ppm during the rainy season. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the concentrations at TECOM and PRC, an absolute variation in EL was observed between the dry and rainy periods. Acids are not specific biological markers for occupational benzene exposure because they are subject to interference, but TTMA was more sensitive than SPMA. TTMA appeared in all urine samples provided, but SPMA responded in only sixteen samples from TECOM workers. The most exposed workers were the track supervisor (PRC) and bulk operator (TECOM). The risk assessment for benzene was positive, and based on the EPA model, it was confirmed that oil tankers have an increased risk of developing reduced white blood cell counts.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externa à Instituição - ANDREA FRANCO AMORAS MAGALHAES - UNIEURO
Externo ao Programa - 404492 - CESAR KOPPE GRISOLIA - nullPresidente - 2221666 - ELOISA DUTRA CALDAS
Externo à Instituição - Ettore Ferrari Júnior - PCDF