出版社：Fundación Científica y Tecnológica de la Asociación Chilena
摘要：Brazil ranks third in world production of amianthus with 240.000 tons
per year (11% of world production). Amianthus or asbestos is a mineral
origin fiber derived from rocks. It is responsible for a lung fibrosis
called asbestosis. This disease appears after inhalation of the fiber. The
possibility of appearance in non-occupationally exposed populations
makes the subject a serious public health problem. In Brazil, amianthus
has been used in large scale for decades. It is estimated that Brazilian
population directly and occupationally exposed is of 300.000 people,
20.000 of which are workers of the exploration and transformation
industry, mining, cement–amianthus, friction materials and others.
Brazil developed a system of surveillance and monitoring of
populations exposed to chemicals, called SIMPEAQ. One of the
objectives of this system is to make visible the number of people
exposed to amianthus in Brazil, as well as their clinical, radiological
and functional manifestations, subsidizing effective measures of
follow-up and treatment of recurrent pathologies of exposure, also
contributing to knowledge of work environment. In this way, the
system is expected to aid control measures, follow-up, diagnosis,
treatment and rehabilitation of this population before and after the ban
on the use of amianthus in Brazil´s production process
