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.
Keywords:
pneumoconiosis; silicosis; occupational diseases; mining; gold
