Search

Ceramics play an important role in the Brazilian economy, with a participation estimated in 1% of the GNP ( Gross National Product), corresponding to about 6 billion dollars. The abundance of natural raw-materials, alternative energy sources, and the availability of practical technologies within the industrial equipments, caused a rapid evolution of the Brazilian industries, and several types of products from the various ceramic segments attained international quality levels, with significative exportation. He ceramic sector is very diverse and can be divided into the following classes: heavy clay ceramics, wall and floor tiles, refractory materials, sanitary ware, porcelain electric insulators, tableware, decorative china, ceramic filters and reservoirs for domestic use, technical ceramics, and thermal insulators. All these segments exist in Brazil, in a higher or lower stage of development and production capacity. Moreover, there are also manufacturers of synthetic glazes and colorants, plaster of paris, equipments and some auxiliary chemicals. In this paper, an overview of the main Brazilian ceramic segments is presented, excluding the glass, cement, and lime sectors, which, despite being ceramic, are generally treated in separate.La cerámica juega un papel muy importante para la economía del país brasileño con una participación en el P.I.B (Producto Interior Bruto) estimado en el 1%, correspondiendo a cerca de 6 millones de dólares. La abundancia de materias primas naturales, fuentes alternativas de energía y una amplia tecnología incorporada a los equipos industriales, han hecho que las industrias brasileñas evolucionasen rápidamente de forma que muchos tipos de productos de diferentes segmentos de la actividad cerámica alcanzasen niveles de calidad mundial, con cifras apreciables destinadas a la exportación. El sector industrial de la cerámica incluye producciones muy diversificados y puede ser dividido en los siguientes sectores: Sanitario, aisladores eléctricos cerámicos, ladrillos y tejas, revestimientos y pavimentos cerámicos, vajilla, cerámica artística (decorativa y utilitaria), filtros cerámicos de agua para uso doméstico, cerámica técnica y aislantes térmicos. En el Brasil existen todos estos segmentos, con mayor o menor grado de desarrollo y capacidad de producción. Además de eso, existen fabricantes de materias primas sintéticas para cerámica (alúmina calcinada, alúmina electrofundida, carburo de silicio y otras), esmaltes, colorantes y pigmentos, bienes de equipo y algunos productos químicos auxiliares. En el presente trabajo se presenta un panorama de los diversos segmentos cerámicos, excluyendo los de vidrio, cemento y cal, que a pesar de su carácter cerámico, dadas sus peculiaridades suelen estudiarse por separado.

Some blood markers are related to cardiovascular risks. In order to investigate the effects of urban air pollutants on haematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), platelets, and white blood cells we carried out a panel study with 48 traffic controllers working in high traffic avenues in São Paulo City. All participants were males, non-smokers or former smokers for at least one year, with at least complete high school education, and without previous cardiovascular diseases. Blood samples were collected in working days, in three different periods: August 2000, January/February 2001, and August 2001, corresponding to different mean levels of air pollutants exposure (winters-August, and summer-January and February). Variance analysis for repeated measures were done to compare the means of the outcomes over the studied periods. Linear regression models with generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to assess the effect of PM10, CO, SO2, NO2, and O3 on the blood markers, controlling for temperature, humidity, age, and body mass index. Excepting O3, all pollutants where associated with changes in blood markers. In general, the effects presented short time lags. An interquartile range increase of CO (1.1 ppm) was associated with increases of 0.7 % on haematocrit (95% CI: 0.14 -1.25) and 1.54 mm on ESR (95% CI: 0.01-3.07). An interquartile range increase of SO2 (9.6 μg/m3) was associated with increases of 0.83 % on haematocrit (95% CI: 0.18-1.49), 5,319 platelets/mm3 (95% CI: 63-10,575), and 514 white blood cells/mm3 (95% CI: 5-1,022). An interquartile range of PM10 (33.6 μg/m3) was associated with an increase of 1,5 mm on ESR (95% CI: 0.13-2.9). An interquartile range increase in NO2 (56 μg/m3) was associated with an increase of 1.5 mm on ESR (95% CI: 0.47-2.44). In São Paulo, all primary pollutants presented association with, at least, one of the blood markers of cardiovascular risk. These results are in agreement with other studies focusing the same endpoints and reinforce the epidemiological association between air pollution and cardiovascular deaths reported in time-series studies. Study funded by InCor, CET, UNISA, LIM05-FMUSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the course of recent decades, Brazil has become an industrialized society. From an epidemiological perspective and considering changes that have been occurring in the Brazilian population, particularly concerning demographic and epidemiological transitions, this paper discusses the need to adapt the epidemiological surveillance system in order to incorporate the surveillance of non-transmissible diseases. The authors analyze the information system for work-related accidents in the Workers' Health Program, under SUDS (the Unified Decentralized Health System) for the Mandaqui Region (in the Northern part of the city of São Paulo), based on data from a local metalworking industry identified by the information system as a high-risk site for work-related accidents. The article also focuses on the importance of organized workers participating in actions to control work-related accidents. Although such participation is not always possible, the health sector must incorporate the workers' own concrete experience in order to develop more effective actions to prevent accidents at the workplace.

This study seeks, for the first time, to identify the sick building syndrome in Brazil. The study population consisted of 312 bank-clerks distributed in two closed buildings situated in S. Paulo city, Brazil. Data were collected by questionnaire, the design was cross-sectional and analysis made by logistic regression. Female, job satisfaction and inappropriate temperature were related to general symptoms. Female and inappropriate temperature were related to mucus membrane symptoms. Job satisfaction was related to absenteeism.