Prevalência de exposição ao petróleo, sintomas respiratórios e fatores associados em pescadores(as) artesanais do litoral da Bahia afetados(as) pelo derramamento de petróleo de 2019 no Brasil

Abstract

In 2019, the Brazilian coast was affected by the largest oil spill ever recorded along the entire coastline of tropical oceans. Approximately 5,000 tons of oil waste were collected, mainly by artisanal fishers living along the coast. This dissertation focuses on oil exposure resulting from the 2019 Oil Spill in Brazil (OSB2019) as its object of study. Its general objective is to investigate the prevalence of oil exposure and respiratory symptoms, as well as other associated factors, among artisanal fishers living in areas affected by the OSB2019. To address the proposed objectives, a cross-sectional epidemiological study was designed, and a structured questionnaire with 325 questions was administered to 959 artisanal fishers in Bahia in 2021. The results of this work are presented in the form of articles organized around the central objective. Article I systematizes and discusses the participatory methodology used in the epidemiological study, emphasizing the interdisciplinary interfaces and the knowledge exchange that was built throughout the research process. Article II describes the analysis conducted to estimate the levels of oil exposure from the OSB2019 among artisanal fishers. The model identified three levels of exposure: low (17.5%), medium (19.8%), and high (7.6%) during oil removal and fishing activities. Articles III and IV address the analysis of which items from the Exposure Assessment Questionnaire for Fishers Affected by OSB2019 best distinguish exposure patterns among artisanal fishers during oil removal activities (Article III) and fishing activities (Article IV). A structured questionnaire was applied to 959 fishers from five affected areas in Bahia. The Graded Response Model from Item Response Theory (IRT) was used, and the item information function indicated that the questionnaire is more accurate for individuals with intermediate levels of exposure. This classification helps to better identify the most vulnerable individuals, supporting the development of strategies for health monitoring and protection. Article V analyzed the association between oil exposure and respiratory symptoms in affected fishers. Self-reported information was collected through individual questionnaires and analyzed using binary logistic regression models. A significant association was found between oil exposure from OSB2019 and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in artisanal fishers. The prevalence of symptoms such as nasal congestion (28.36%) and burning in the nose, throat, or lungs (22.73%) was substantially higher among individuals exposed to high levels of oil during fishing and removal activities (Article IV).