Assessment of the environmental impact and economic benefits of the adoption of cleaner production in a Brazilian metal finishing industry.

The Metal Finishing Industry (MFI) use water and several chemicals in its production chain, which generatesboth liquid and solid hazardous waste. The present study evaluatesthe economic and environmental advantages of implementing cleaner production (CP) in a Brazilian MFI specialized in chrome and zinc. For the economic assessment, we adopted the measures of return on investment and internal rate of return. In order to measure the environmental impact, we used the Mass Intensity Factor. A case study methodology was adopted, with datacollectedthrough observation and semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that the adoption of CPin this sector encourages the deployment of a Rising Cascades System in Counterflow (RCSC) to minimize water consumption through the reuse and segregation of hazardous solid waste (sludge). The sludge generated may be sold as a byproduct for the production of ceramics. We identifiedopportunities to reduce costs by minimizing waste, although this does require investment. However, the return on such investments mayenable the implementation of CP. The reduction in environmental impact on the ecosystem was significant, with large reductions in hazardous components contained in the sludge being dumped in the environment. The results may guide the development of public policies in Brazil, particularly in the adoption of CP in MFI to disseminate environmental education and increase governmental control.

Morbidades referidas por trabalhadoras que produzem joias folheadas em Limeira, SP / Morbidity reported by workers who produce plated jewelry in Limeira, SP, Brazil

Introdução: a cidade de Limeira (SP) se caracteriza por ser um polo de empresas do ramo de joias folheadas e bijuterias, sendo a maior parte da mão de obra composta por mulheres. Objetivo: verificar as morbidades referidas por mulheres expostas ao cianeto no setor de bijuterias e joias folheadas na cidade de Limeira em 2007. Metodologia: estudo transversal realizado com 383 trabalhadoras, comparando-se um grupo de 191 mulheres trabalhadoras em galvanoplastias consideradas qualitativamente expostas ao cianeto com um grupo de 192 mulheres não expostas ao cianeto. Foi aplicado o Índice de Capacidade para o Trabalho, o Questionário de Tolerância de Fagerstrõm e um questionário sociodemográfico e ocupacional. Resultados: O grupo considerado exposto ao cianeto apresentou: menor média de tempo de trabalho no cargo (p = 0,008), maior proporção que trabalha com produtos químicos (p < 0,001), que usa Equipamento de Proteção Individual (p < 0,001), que recebe equipamento das empresas em que trabalham (p < 0,001), menor quantidade de morbidades referidas (p = 0,042), mas maior prevalência de bronquite crônica (p = 0,027), sinusite crônica (p = 0,022) e disfunções da tireoide (p = 0,022). Conclusões: os resultados apontam para a necessidade de pesquisas de coorte que analisem a associação entre os agravos apresentados e a exposição ao cianeto.

Introduction: The city of Limeira in São Paulo, Brazil, is characterized by a cluster of companies producing jewelry, plated jewelry, and fashion jewelry, with most of the laborforce composed of women. Objective: The purpose of this research was to assess the health conditions of workers from gold plated and costume jewelry manufacturers in Limeira, in 2007. Methodology: Transversal study involving 383 women, comparing a group of 191 workers of electroplating sites considered exposed to cyanide to a group of 192 non-exposed. Work Index Capacity, Fagerstrõm Scale of Tolerance, and a socio-demographic and occupational questionnaire wereapplied. Results: The exposed group presented shorter average of time working in the company (p = 0.008), higher proportion of workers dealing with chemicals (p<0.001), wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (p <0.001), and receiving PPE provided by the companies where they worked (p <0.001). The group exposed to cyanide also presented lower proportion in reported morbidity (p = 0.042), but higher prevalence of chronic bronchitis (p = 0.027), chronic sinusitis (p = 0.022), and thyroid disorders (p = 0.022). Conclusion: The results indicate the needfor cohort studies to examine the association between the reported diseases and cyanide exposure.