Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women farmers concerning tobacco agriculture in a municipality in Southern BrazilConhecimentos, atitudes e práticas de agricultoras sobre o processo de produção de tabaco em um município da Região Sul do Brasil Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de agricultoras sobre el proceso de producción del tabaco en un municipio de la Región Sur de Brasil

Introduction: Birth weight is an important indicator of several conditions that manifest earlier (as fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, inhibited growth and cognitive development) and later in life such as chronic diseases. Air pollution has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Objective: Retrospective cohort study investigated the association between low birth weight (LBW) and maternal exposure to air pollutants in Volta Redonda city, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 2003 to 2006. Methods: Birth data was obtained from Brazilian Information System. Exposure information (O 3 , PM 10 , temperature and humidity) was provided by Governmental Air Quality Monitoring System. Linear and Logistic models, adjusted for sex, type of pregnancy, prenatal care, place of birth, maternal age, parity, education, congenital anomalies and weather variables were employed. Results: Low birth weight (LBW) represented 9.1% of all newborns (13,660). For an interquartile range increase in PM 10 it was found OR 2ndTrimester = 1.06 (95%CI 1.02 -1.10), OR 3rdTrimester = 1.06 (95%CI 1.02 -1.10) and, in O 3 it was found OR 2ndTrimester = 1.03 (95%CI 1.01 -1.04), OR 3rdTrimester = 1.03 (95%CI 1.02 -1.04). The dose-response relationship and a reduction in birth weight of 31.11 g (95%CI -56.64 --5.58) was observed in the third trimester of pregnancy due to an interquartile increase of O 3 . Conclusion: This study suggests that exposures to PM 10 and O 3 , even being below the Brazilian air quality standards, contribute to risks of low birth weight.

The authors evaluate the work process and its effect on workers' health in a cement factory in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The interactive methodology consisted of different approaches to assessing the workplace through the incorporation of various institutions working in the field of Workers' Health, professionals from different backgrounds, and the trade union, valorizing the workers' experience and actively contributing to the surveillance process under the Unified National Health System (SUS). Levels of particulate matter and noise were measured. The mean level of free crystalline silica in the particulate matter was 2%, resulting in a tolerance limit as specified under Brazilian legislation (NR-15), or 2.0mg/m3. The concentration of particles both in samples collected in the workers' respiratory zone and in area samples varied from 3.59 to 52.44mg/m3. Noise varied from 83dB to 110dB. The majority of the values were higher than the maximum limits set by Brazilian legislation. These results, together with the opinions expressed by the workers themselves, showed an unhealthy workplace and work process, placing the workers' health at risk.

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