health and work conditions in the burning of toxic waste in cement kilns in the Cantagalo, Rio de Janeiro

A ind??stria cimenteira nacional, desde 1991, utiliza res??duos t??xicos gerados por outras empresas como combust??vel ou mat??ria prima alternativa, e justifica a pr??tica, que resulta em substancial economia de recursos, como express??o de responsabilidade ambiental. Entretanto, a realidade demonstra sinais de impactos negativos sobre a sa??de de trabalhadores e da popula????o vizinha ??s f??bricas, bem como ao meio ambiente.Este estudo ocupa-se de analisar as condi????es de trabalho e sa??de a partir do discurso dos trabalhadores envolvidos na atividade em Cantagalo, RJ, comparando-as com a literatura cient??fica dispon??vel, depoimentos de autoridades, material jornal??stico e gerado pelas empresas interessadas. A partir desta an??lise, pode-se comprovar que a atividade gera adoecimento, que ?? agravado pelas condi????es socioecon??micas locais, ?? banalizado pelo comportamento dos respons??veis por evit??-lo. ?? ocultado pela neglig??ncia de notifica????o ??s autoridades e ?? confundido pela valoriza????o de duvidoso monitoramento biol??gico, indevidamente avaliado quanto ??s express??es cl??nicas t??picas de intoxica????es, gerando situa????es d??bias, que favorecem as empresas e lesam a popula????o exposta. H?? que fortalecer as inst??ncias locais de Meio Ambiente e Sa??de, para que o tema seja discutido de forma ampla e conjunta, envolvendo atores respons??veis pela pr??tica, ??rg??os ambientais e de sa??de, e as popula????es expostas. ?? imperativo que haja nivelamento t??cnico e equidade de for??as, condi????es fundamentais para que o processo se fa??a atrav??s da legitima????o dos princ??pios da Sa??de Coletiva e da Justi??a Ambiental.The Brazilian cement industry has since 1991 used toxic residues produced by other industries as either fuel or alternative raw material in the manufacture of cement. Such practice, while resulting in considerable saving of resources, is justified as a token of environmental responsibility and commitment. However, reality displays clear signs of negative impact on not only workers??? health and plants??? neighboring population, but the environment. This analysis investigates cement industry employees??? health and work conditions, in a comparative study between the discourse of the employees in a plant in Cantagalo, Rio de Janeiro, and the available scientific literature, authorities??? statements, newspaper articles and materials published by the companies at issue. The analysis proves that the activity causes illnesses, which are aggravated by the local socio-economical conditions; rendered banal by the behavior of those accountable for avoiding them; hidden by neglectful notification to authorities; and blurred by the overvaluation of doubtful biological monitoring, improperly assessed regarding the typical clinical manifestation of poisoning, generating dubious situations in favor of the involved companies and against the exposed population. It is necessary to strengthen Health and Environmental local offices, so that the subject is widely and jointly discussed, with the participation of those accountable for such practice, environment and health agencies and the exposed population. Technical leveling and power equity are mandatory and fundamental conditions for carrying out the process through legitimization of Collective Health and Environmental Justice principles