Pollution From Sugarcane Burning and Its Effects on the Respiratory System: a Study In Redenção, Ceará, Northeast Brazil (2017)

Objective: The objective of this study is to conduct a qualitative study through a literature review on the effects of exposure to particulate matter from sugarcane burning and its influence on the treatment of respiratory diseases, as well as to verify whether there is an increase in treatment resulting from the period of sugarcane biomass burning in the municipality of Redenção in the state of Ceará. Theoretical Framework: The burning of sugarcane biomass is considered a major contributor to environmental pollution in underdeveloped countries and regions that depend on this subsidiary economy. Even at levels below those established by the responsible agencies, pollution from sugarcane burning significantly affects the lives of living beings, whether they are healthy or suffer from pre-existing respiratory diseases. In this context, in the municipality of Redenção, located in the state of Ceará, sugarcane biomass is burned between August and December, a fact that can interfere with the health of the city's inhabitants. Method: A qualitative study was chosen, combined with a literature review in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) databases, the Virtual Health Library (VHL/BIREME) portal, and the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed), searching for theses and articles on the subject. Results and Discussion: For quantitative analysis, visits were made to the Paulo Sarasate Hospital and Maternity Ward, located in the city of Redenção, to present the work proposal and collect data. With the data collected, an analysis of all the material was carried out, which was correlated with the literature review with a view to forming the results, discussion, and conclusion. In general, our qualitative research showed that pollution from biomass burning has a decisive influence on people's health. Our quantitative data indicate that the burning of sugarcane biomass in the municipality of Redenção-Ceará possibly influences the health of the city's inhabitants, especially children. Research Implications: These data are consistent with the literature, since children are part of a risk group that is more susceptible to the harmful effects of pollution, as their immune systems are not yet fully developed. Pollution from the burning of sugarcane biomass in the city of Redenção, in the state of Ceará, probably contributes to the increase in visits to health facilities due to respiratory diseases. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by discussing a public health policy issue, demonstrating through field research the potential of pollution and how it affects respiratory diseases among citizens of the city surveyed.