Pre-harvest cane burning and health: the association between school absences and burning sugarcane fields

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate an association between preharvest sugarcane burning and respiratory diseases in children under five years of age. The following data were collected in five schools in the cityof Araraquara, SP, Southeastern Brazil, between March and June 2009:daily records of absences and the reasons stated for these absences, totalconcentration of suspended particulate matter (μg/m3), and air humidity. Therelationship between the percentage of school absences due to respiratoryproblems and the concentration of particulate matter in March and fromApril to June presented a distinct behavior: absences increased alongsidethe increase in particulate matter concentration. The use of school absencesas indicators of this relationship is an innovative approach