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ABSTRACT Asbestos was largely used in Brazil. It is a mineral that induces pleural and pulmonary fibrosis, and it is a potent carcinogen. Our objective was to develop recommendations for the performance of adequate imaging tests for screening asbestos-related diseases. We searched peer-reviewed publications, national and international technical documents, and specialists' opinions on the theme. Based on that, the major recommendations are: Individuals exposed to asbestos at the workplace for ≥ 1 year or those with a history of environmental exposure for at least 5 years, all of those with a latency period > 20 years from the date of initial exposure, should initially undego HRCT of the chest for investigation. Individuals with pleural disease and/or asbestosis should be considered for regular lung cancer monitoring. Risk calculators should be adopted for lung cancer screening, with a risk estimate of 1.5%.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate silicosis diagnosed through CT, with integration of clinical-occupational data, in silica-exposed workers presenting chest X-rays within International Labor Organization (ILO) category 0. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 339 former gold miners, with comparable exposures and X-rays classified as ILO subcategory 0/0 (n=285) and 0/1 (n=54) were submitted to volume-based CT. The findings were classified according to the International Classification of HRCT CT for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Diseases. RESULTS: A profusion degree of round opacities (RO)>1 was found in 22.4% (76/339) of the CT exams. After integrating the CT findings with clinical and occupational data, silicosis was diagnosed as follows: 43/285 (15.1%) and 14/54 (25.9%) in workers whose X-rays had been classified as 0/0 and 0/1, respectively. There was an upward trend towards longer exposures, reaching 38.9% when working more than 10 years underground and classified as 0/1 (p=0019). Those with presence of RO whose final diagnosis was not silicosis were mainly cases of tuberculosis or 'indeterminate nodules'. Emphysema was found in 65/339 (19.1%), only 5 being detected in the X-ray. CONCLUSION: Volume-based CT proved to be useful in the investigation of silicosis among individuals with a relevant exposure to silica, capturing diagnoses that had not been identified on X-rays. A response gradient of silicosis was showed by CT even in this population with ILO category 0 radiographs. It can be indicated based on quantitative and/or qualitative criteria of occupational exposure, especially considering the possibilities of low CT dosage.

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Hypersensitivity pneumonia is an immune-mediated inflammation of the lung parenchyma that occurs in previously susceptible individuals, after inhalation of antigens, usually organic. In recent years, various chemical agents have been described as inducers of hypersensitivity pneumonia, including exposure to high concentrations of pesticides. The objective of the present case report was to describe a possible association of hypersensitivity pneumonia with pesticide chronic inhalation and to draw attention to the importance of early diagnosis. The patient was 72-year-old man who worked for over 30 years as a health agent fumigating pesticides in rural and urban areas. He had progressive dyspnea and cough for the past 3 years. Chest tomography demonstrated parenchymal bands, honeycombing, and diffuse air trapping. Spirometry showed a severe restrictive pattern. Surgical lung biopsy was indicated, which confirmed the diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonia. Due to the wide use of pesticides in Brazil, the knowledge of their association with hypersensitivity pneumonia is of great importance in warning the teams involved in health care and surveillance of these workers, providing earlier diagnoses, with better prognosis. On the contrary, late diagnoses, such as that of the case reported, have important health impacts. As a priority, preventive measures must be taken to protect exposed individuals.

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Resumo Introdução A tuberculose, caracterizada pela Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) como emergência sanitária mundial, é uma doença de impacto global. Objetivo Realizar série histórica de casos de tuberculose em um período de 17 anos em Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, considerando a histórica relação da doença com a mineração. Método Dados foram obtidos em sistema próprio de registros do município, por busca ativa em prontuários médicos e comparados à quantidade de casos notificados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Para análises de tendência, foram utilizados modelos de regressão polinomial para séries históricas. Resultados Idade média dos casos foi 40,3 ± 16,4 anos. Homens apresentaram 2,23 vezes mais casos e chance 2,07 vezes maior para desfechos negativos. A forma mais observada foi pulmonar (84%), e sorologia para HIV foi realizada em apenas 16,3% dos registros. Principal desfecho observado foi cura (70%), e desfechos negativos totalizaram 20,2% dos registros. Taxa de incidência média foi 29,76 e 16,23 casos/100 mil habitantes na área municipal e distrital, respectivamente. Conclusão Apesar da relação histórica entre mineração e tuberculose no município, observa-se que este ainda apresenta preocupantes vulnerabilidades em relação à vigilância da doença. Análise de série temporal sugeriu declínio na proporção de casos curados entre 2009 e 2015.

Abstract Background Tuberculosis, characterized by the World Health Organization as a global health emergency, is a disease of global impact. Objective To investigate a series of tuberculosis cases during 17 years in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, considering the historic relationship between mining and the disease. Method Data was obtained through the city's system of tuberculosis notifications, plus active search through medical records, and compared to the amount of notified cases present in the System of Information of Notifications Complications. For trend analysis, polynomial regression models were used for the historic series. Results The average age was 40.3 ± 16.4 years old. Men showed 2.23 times more cases and chances (odds ratio) of 2.07 times higher for negative outcomes. The most observed form was lung (85%) and HIV serology was performed in only 16.3% of the logs. The main observed outcome was a cure (70%) and negative outcomes accounted for 20.2% of the logs. The average incidence rate was 29.76 and 16.23 cases/100 thousand inhabitants in the city and district zones, respectively. Conclusion Despite the historical relationship between mining and tuberculosis in the municipality, it is observed that the same still presents worrying vulnerabilities about disease surveillance, temporal series analysis suggested a decline in the proportion of cases cured between 2009 and 2015.

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Resumo Introdução: Minas Gerais é o estado brasileiro com maior registro de casos de silicose, sendo grande parte proveniente de casuísticas acumuladas das minerações de ouro. Objetivos: descrever e analisar temporalmente a ocorrência de silicose na mineração de ouro identificando fatores ocupacionais relacionados. Métodos: estudo transversal com 1.020 ex-mineiros da região de Nova Lima/MG, avaliados entre 1995 e 2011. Resultados: o diagnóstico de silicose foi confirmado em 19,7% dos avaliados. Nenhum caso da doença foi identificado em indivíduos que trabalharam apenas na superfície. A prevalência no grupo que trabalhou até 5 anos no subterrâneo foi de 3,8% e no grupo com mais de 20 anos de trabalho nesse local foi de 44,2%. Os admitidos para trabalho subterrâneo até 1950 apresentaram prevalência de 57,9%. Entre os admitidos após 1990, não houve registro de casos. Conclusão: verificou-se uma queda expressiva na ocorrência de silicose no período analisado. Uma vez que a doença é sabidamente dose-dependente, é esperado que a diminuição dos níveis de exposição, obtido pelas melhorias dos ambientes ocupacionais, tenha refletido nestes resultados. É fundamental que tais medidas continuem a ser adotadas na mineração e em outros ramos de atividade visando reduzir a ocorrência da doença.

Abstract Introduction: Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the highest record of silicosis cases, mostly from gold mining. Objectives: to describe and analyze the occurrence of silicosis in gold mining over time, identifying occupational related factors. Methods: cross-sectional study with 1.020 former miners from the region of Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, evaluated from 1995 to 2011. Results: silicosis diagnosis was confirmed in 19.7% of the miners evaluated. No cases were identified in individuals who worked only on the surface. The prevalence among those who worked underground was 3.8% for the group up to 5 years and 44,2% for the group that worked over 20 years. Those admitted to work underground up to 1950 had a prevalence of 57.9%. Among those admitted after 1990, there were no cases recorded. Conclusion: we found an expressive decline in the silicosis occurrence in the period. Because silicosis is dose-dependent, it is expected that decrease in exposure levels was due to improvements in work environments. These measures must continue to be adopted in mining and in other branches of work activity to reduce the occurrence of silicosis.

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ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze mortality from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in Brazil over the period 1979-2014. Methods: Microdata were extracted from the Brazilian National Ministry of Health Mortality Database. Only deaths for which the underlying cause was coded as International Classification of Diseases version 9 (ICD-9) 515 or 516.3 (until 1995) or as ICD version 10 (ICD-10) J84.1 (from 1996 onward) were included in our analysis. Standardized mortality rates were calculated for the 2010 Brazilian population. The annual trend in mortality rates was analyzed by joinpoint regression. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) by age group, time period of death, and gender, using a person-years denominator. Results: A total of 32,092 deaths were recorded in the study period. Standardized mortality rates trended upward, rising from 0.24/100,000 population in 1979 to 1.10/100,000 population in 2014. The annual upward trend in mortality rates had two inflection points, in 1992 and 2008, separating three distinct time segments with an annual growth of 2.2%, 6.8%, and 2.4%, respectively. The comparison of RRs for the age groups, using the 50- to 54-year age group as a reference, and for the study period, using 1979-1984 as a reference, were 16.14 (14.44-16.36) and 6.71 (6.34-7.12), respectively. Men compared with women had higher standardized mortality rates (per 100,000 person-years) in all age groups. Conclusion: Brazilian IPF mortality rates are lower than those of other countries, suggesting underdiagnosis or underreporting. The temporal trend is similar to those reported in the literature and is not explained solely by population aging.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a mortalidade por fibrose pulmonar idiopática (FPI) no Brasil no período de 1979-2014. Métodos: Foram extraídos microdados do Sistema de Informações de Mortalidade do Ministério da Saúde cuja causa básica de óbito tenha sido codificada conforme a Classificação Internacional das Doenças, 9ª edição, códigos 515 ou 516.3 (até 1995), e 10ª versão, código J84.1 (a partir de 1996). Os coeficientes de mortalidade padronizados foram calculados para a população brasileira de 2010. A tendência anual da mortalidade foi analisada pelo método de regressão por pontos de inflexão. Foram calculadas as razões de risco (RR) por faixa etária, período analisado e gênero, utilizando-se como denominador pessoas-ano. Resultados: Foram registrados 32.092 óbitos no período estudado. O coeficiente de mortalidade padronizado mostrou-se ascendente, passando de 0,24/100.000 habitantes em 1979 para 1,10/100.000 em 2014. A tendência anual de crescimento identificou dois pontos de inflexão, em 1992 e 2008, gerando três retas com crescimento anual percentual de 2,2%, 6,8% e 2,4%, respectivamente. As RR (IC95%) por faixa etária, elegendo a faixa de 50-54 anos como referência, e por período estudado, elegendo o período de 1979-1984 como referência, foram de 16,14 (14,44-16,36) e de 6,71 (6,34-7,12), respectivamente. Homens, comparados a mulheres, apresentaram taxas de mortalidade padronizadas (por 100.000 pessoas-ano) superiores em todas as faixas etárias. Conclusões: Os coeficientes de mortalidade brasileiros por FPI são inferiores aos de outros países, podendo indicar subdiagnóstico ou subnotificação. A tendência temporal é semelhante à descrita na literatura e não é justificada apenas pelo envelhecimento populacional.

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OBJECTIVE: To analyze mortality from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in Brazil over the period 1979-2014. METHODS: Microdata were extracted from the Brazilian National Ministry of Health Mortality Database. Only deaths for which the underlying cause was coded as International Classification of Diseases version 9 (ICD-9) 515 or 516.3 (until 1995) or as ICD version 10 (ICD-10) J84.1 (from 1996 onward) were included in our analysis. Standardized mortality rates were calculated for the 2010 Brazilian population. The annual trend in mortality rates was analyzed by joinpoint regression. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) by age group, time period of death, and gender, using a person-years denominator. RESULTS: A total of 32,092 deaths were recorded in the study period. Standardized mortality rates trended upward, rising from 0.24/100,000 population in 1979 to 1.10/100,000 population in 2014. The annual upward trend in mortality rates had two inflection points, in 1992 and 2008, separating three distinct time segments with an annual growth of 2.2%, 6.8%, and 2.4%, respectively. The comparison of RRs for the age groups, using the 50- to 54-year age group as a reference, and for the study period, using 1979-1984 as a reference, were 16.14 (14.44-16.36) and 6.71 (6.34-7.12), respectively. Men compared with women had higher standardized mortality rates (per 100,000 person-years) in all age groups. CONCLUSION: Brazilian IPF mortality rates are lower than those of other countries, suggesting underdiagnosis or underreporting. The temporal trend is similar to those reported in the literature and is not explained solely by population aging.

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BACKGROUND: There are limited data on mesothelioma mortality in industrializing countries, where, at present, most of the asbestos consumption occurs. OBJECTIVES: To analyze temporal trends and to calculate mortality rates from mesothelioma and cancer of the pleura in Brazil from 2000 to 2012 and to estimate future mortality rates. METHODS: We retrieved records of deaths from mesothelioma (ICD-10C45) and cancer of the pleura (ICD-10C38.4) from 2000 to 2012 in adults aged 30 years and over. Crude and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) were calculated. Rate ratios of mean crude mortality for selected municipalities were compared to the Brazilian rate. A regression was carried out of the annual number of deaths against asbestos consumption using a Generalized Additive Model (GAM). The best model was chosen to estimate the future burden and peak period of deaths. RESULTS: There were 929C45 and 1379 C38.4 deaths. The ratio of men to women for C45 was 1.4. A positive trend in C45 numbers was observed in Brazil (p=0.0012), particularly in São Paulo (p=0.0004) where ASMRs presented an increasing linear trend (p=0.0344). Selected municipalities harboring asbestos manipulation presented 3.7-11 fold rate ratios of C45 compared to Brazil. GAM presented best fits for latencies of 34 years or more. It is estimated that the peak incidence of C45 mortality will occur between 2021 and 2026. CONCLUSIONS: The observed ASMRs and the gender ratio close to 1 suggest underreporting. Even so, deaths are increasing and mesothelioma clusters were identified. Compared to industrialized countries Brazil displays a 15-20 year lag in estimated peak mesothelioma mortality which is consistent with the lag of asbestos peak consumption in the country.

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A silicose representa um importante problema de saúde pública em todo o mundo, sobretudo nos países em desenvolvimento, sendo a principal causa de invalidez entre as doenças respiratórias ocupacionais. É uma pneumoconiose fibrótica, irreversível e potencialmente fatal, causada pela inalação de poeira contendo sílica cristalina. O diagnóstico é estabelecido através da história clínica e ocupacional de exposição à sílica, na presença de alterações radiológicas. Estudos experimentais e clínicos sugerem que a inalação da poeira da sílica está associada a um processo inflamatório pulmonar e sistêmico, mesmo em indivíduos que não desenvolveram silicose. Até o momento não existem exames laboratoriais específicos para o diagnóstico da doença, de modo que o conhecimento de marcadores biológicos associados à imunopatologia da silicose pode ser importante na detecção precoce da instalação e desenvolvimento da doença. O presente artigo traz uma revisão de estudos que investigaram os possíveis biomarcadores inflamatórios da doença no sangue e no lavado bronco-alveolar de humanos e de modelos experimentais.

Silicosis is an important public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries and is the leading cause of disability among occupational respiratory diseases. It is a fibrotic disease irreversible and potentially fatal caused by inhaling dust containing crystalline silica, the most frequent type of pneumoconiosis. Diagnosis is established by clinical and occupational history of exposure to silica, in the presence of radiological changes. Experimental and clinical studies suggest that inhalation of silica dust is associated with pulmonary and systemic inflammation even in patients who did not develop silicosis. There are no specific tests for the routine laboratory diagnosis of the disease and the study of biological markers associated with the immunopathology of silicosis is important to understanding the establishment and development of silicosis. This article presents a review of studies investigating the possible inflammatory biomarkers of disease in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage from humans and experimental models.

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OBJETIVO: Avaliar efeitos respiratórios tardios da inalação ocupacional de talco contaminado por asbesto. MÉTODOS: Análise de série de casos de 29 ex-trabalhadores de mineração de talco contaminado com asbestos provenientes de Carandaí, MG, atendidos no Centro de Referência Estadual de Saúde do Trabalhador de Minas Gerais em 2004-2005. Os ex-trabalhadores foram submetidos a anamnese clínico-ocupacional, radiografia de tórax e espirometria. Foi criado um escore de exposição que, multiplicado pela duração, originou um índice de exposição cumulativa ao talco. Para verificar a associação do índice de exposição cumulativa com a presença de alterações radiológicas, sugestivas de pneumoconiose e/ou alterações pleurais, foi ajustado um modelo de regressão logística exata. RESULTADOS: Todos os ex-trabalhadores eram homens, com média de idade de 48,2 anos. Nas radiografias de tórax foram encontradas alterações pleurais em três deles, opacidades parenquimatosas compatíveis com pneumoconiose em um e suspeita em seis. Alterações espirométricas ocorreram em três. A regressão logística apontou odds ratio de 1,059 (IC 95 por cento: 1,012;1,125) para o índice acumulado, ou seja, cada unidade no índice resulta em um aumento de 5,9 por cento na chance de apresentar alteração radiológica compatível ou suspeita de pneumoconiose. Em relação à mediana do tempo estimado de latência entre o início da exposição até o diagnóstico das placas pleurais, ocorreu diferença significativa (p = 0,013) entre os casos (27,0 anos) e não casos (14,3 anos). CONCLUSÕES: Os achados apontam a necessidade de controle clínico nos trabalhadores que foram expostos a asbesto, particularmente devido aos efeitos tardios da exposição a esse mineral.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate late respiratory effects from occupational inhalation of talc contaminated with asbestos. METHODS: This was a case series study on 29 former talc mining workers with asbestos contamination, in the municipality of Carandaí, Southeastern Brazil, who were attended at the State Workers' Health Reference Center in 2004 and 2005. Their clinical and occupational histories were obtained and they underwent spirometry and chest radiography. An exposure score was created; multiplying this by duration produced a cumulative talc exposure index. To confirm the association between the cumulative exposure index and the presence of radiological abnormalities suggestive of pneumoconiosis and/or pleural abnormalities, an exact logistic regression model was fitted to this. RESULTS: All the former workers were males, with an average age of 48.2 years. Chest radiographs showed pleural abnormalities in three of them; parenchymatous opacity compatible with pneumoconiosis in one; and suspected pneumoconiosis in six. Spirometric abnormalities were found in three workers. Logistic regression showed an odds ratio of 1.059 (95 percent CI: 1.012; 1.125) for the cumulative exposure index, i.e. each unit increase in the index resulted in an increase of 5.9 percent in the chance of presenting radiological abnormalities compatible with or suspicious of pneumoconiosis. With regard to the median estimated latency period between the start of exposure and the diagnosing of pleural plaque, there was a significant difference (p = 0.013) between the cases (27.0 years) and non-cases (14.3 years). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate the need for clinical control among workers who have been exposed to asbestos, particularly because of the late effects from exposure to this mineral.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar efectos respiratorios tardíos de la inhalación ocupacional de talco contaminado por asbesto. MÉTODOS: Análisis de serie de casos de 29 extrabajadores de minería de talco contaminado con asbestos provenientes de Carandaí, sureste de Brasil, atendidos en el Centro de Referencia Estatal de Salud del Trabajador de Minas Gerais en 2004-2005. Los extrabajadores fueron sometidos a anamnesis clínico-ocupacional, radiografía de tórax y espirometría. Fue creado un escore de exposición que multiplicado por la duración, originó un índice de exposición acumulativa al talco. Para testar la asociación del índice de exposición acumulativa con la presencia de alteraciones radiológicas, sugestivas de neumoconiosis e/o alteraciones pleurales, fue ajustado un modelo de regresión logística exacta. RESULTADOS: Todos los extrabajadores eran hombres, con promedio de edad de 48,2 años. En las radiografías de tórax fueron encontradas alteraciones pleurales en tres de ellos, opacidades parenquimatosas compatibles con neumoconiosis en uno y sospecha en seis. Alteraciones espirométricas ocurrieron en tres. La regresión logística indicó odds ratio de 1,059 (IC 95 por ciento:1,012;1,125) para el índice acumulado, es decir, cada unidad en el índice resulta en un aumento de 5,9 por ciento en el chance de presentar alteración radiológica compatible o con sospecha de neumoconiosis. Con relación a la mediana del tiempo estimado de latencia entre el inicio de la exposición y el diagnóstico de las placas pleurales, ocurrió diferencia significativa (p=0,013) entre los casos (27,0 años) y no casos (14,3 años). CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados muestran la necesidad de control clínico en los trabajadores que fueron expuestos a asbesto, particularmente debido a los efectos tardíos de la exposición a este mineral.

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