Effects of Exposure to Biomass-burning Air Pollution on Lung Function, Heart Rate Variability and Inflammatory Markers in Sugarcane Workers

Effects of Exposure to Outdoor Air Pollution From Biomass Burning on Lung Function, Heart Rate Variability and Systemic Inflammatory Blood Markers in Sugarcane Workers

Introduction: Non-mechanized sugar cane harvesting preceded by burning, an important and prevalent professional activity of agribusiness segment of the Brazilian economy, exposes workers and people of neighboring towns to high concentrations of pollutants and, therefore, potentially several risks to health hazards.

Objectives: Assessing cardiopulmonary impacts and inflammatory markers in sugarcane workers and volunteers from a nearby town in non-harvest and harvest periods.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Oxidative Stress; Heart Rate Variability; Systemic Inflammatory Response; Lung Function

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 222

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • Sao Paulo
    • Mendonça, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 15220-000
      • City of Mendonça (urban area and sugarcane plantations)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 40 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Population from the city of Mendonça, São Paulo-Brazil, divided into the following groups: sugarcane workers (those who work in sugarcane plantations) and controls (healthy volunteers from the same city)

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• The criteria for inclusion in the study were: age between 20 and 40 years, male gender and being non-smokers (or former-smokers for at least a year and a smoking history of less than 20 pack-years).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria were history of cardiovascular or respiratory disease, the use of bronchodilator, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs and statins.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Controls; Healthy male volunteers, non-smokers, 20-40yo, living in the city of Mendonça, São Paulo-Brazil.
Sugarcane Workers; Healthy male volunteers, non-smokers, 20-40yo, sugarcane workers, living in the city of Mendonça, São Paulo-Brazil.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Lung function	Measurements of lung function in pre harvest and during harvest period	six months
Heart rate variability	To evaluate parameters of heart rate variability in pre harvest and during harvest periods	six months
Oxidative stress	Measurement of blood levels of antioxidant enzymes and malonaldehyde	six months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Environmental evaluation	Measurement of athmospheric concentration of particulate matter.	one year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: InCor Heart Institute
• Collaborators: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Paula Santos U, Zanetta DM, Terra-Filho M, Burdmann EA. Burnt sugarcane harvesting is associated with acute renal dysfunction. Kidney Int. 2015 Apr;87(4):792-9. doi: 10.1038/ki.2014.306. Epub 2014 Sep 17.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): October 1, 2010
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): February 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 9, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 9, 2011
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): June 10, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): June 10, 2011
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 9, 2011
• Last Verified: June 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Burns
• Other Study ID Numbers: Mendonca; 402195/2008 (OTHER: CNPQ)