Legislação ambiental e a exposição laboral ao material particulado

Abstract

This paper aims to present a critical analysis of the Brazilian legislation in order to ascertain whether the standards currently in place are able to protect workers from possible exposure to industrial air pollutants, especially particulate matter. A review of environmental legislation relating to air pollution was conducted, as well as a survey of various scientific studies that revealed the harmful effects of particulate matter on human health and the relationship between air pollution exposure and the development of occupational diseases. It was concluded that these standards are not aligned with the best practices of hygiene and occupational health which makes it imperative to review the established exposure limits and the inclusion of new parameters. We suggest the development of a specific standard for work environments that considers parameters such as the TSP, PM10 and PM2,5 and also the chemical composition of the particulate matter.