Classification and characterization of exposure among artisanal fishers to the oil spill in Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

This study sought to classify and characterize the exposure of artisanal fishers from Pernambuco, Brazil, to oil during disaster-crime that took place on the Northeast coast of the country in 2019. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted involving interviews with 1,259 artisanal fishers registered with 27 fishing colonies and/or associations along the coast of Pernambuco. Cluster analysis was employed with non-hierarchical k-modes for the classification of the degree of exposure: low (72.3%) – most had no direct contact; medium (12.3%) – 66.4% handled contaminated materials, 60% smelled the odor, and 63% had occasional contact; and high (15.4%) – 77.8% handled waste, 81% smelled a strong odor, and 72.2% reported skin irritation. Two exposure groups were identified for the oil cleanup activities: low (73.1%) – 92.9% did not participate; and medium (26.9%) – all participated, 45.1% used contaminated instruments, 79.9% reported a strong odor, and 20% had frequent contact with the oil. The northern coast of Pernambuco had the highest percentage of individuals in the high-exposure group (17.1%). This group was formed predominantly of women. Fishers were exposed to oil both at work and while cleaning beaches, reefs, and mangroves, many with high exposure rates. These results underscore the need for strategies to monitor the physical and mental health of this population, as well as the assessment of bioindicators and the implementation of occupational and environmental health surveillance actions.