Workloads, precariousness and worker health in agribusiness in the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between sociodemographic characteristics, related to environmental and occupational exposure and self-report of intoxication in patients diagnosed with cancer in Mato Grosso, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study with 998 cancer patients seen at referral hospitals in the state. The dependent variable was obtained from the self-report of some intoxication symptom in the last 5 years and whether the intoxication was caused by work/occupation. The association between sociodemographic characteristics, related to intoxication and environmental and occupational exposure and self-report of intoxication was assessed by Fisher's exact test. Of all respondents, 7.4% (95%CI: 6.0; 9.2) reported intoxication, and 2.3% (95%CI: 1.5; 3.4) were work-related. Factors associated with self-reported work-related intoxication were being male, having less than 4 years of education, headache, intoxication by agricultural pesticides, respiratory route and having worked with pesticides, asbestos, heavy metals and industrial dust. We conclude that individuals with higher occupational exposure to pesticides and other chemicals reported higher occurrence of poisoning due to work.