Características de la exposición al amianto en los empleados de la empresa DAC – Cuenca Azuay, en el periodo 2022 - 2023

Abstract

Background: Asbestos, a known carcinogen and a cause of pneumoconiotic diseases such as asbestosis according to the WHO, is unfortunately still used as a raw material in the production of fibrocement, exposing workers to respiratory diseases in the short, medium, and long term. Objective: To determine the characteristics of asbestos exposure among employees of DAC Company - Cuenca - Azuay, during the period 2022 – 2023. Materials and Methods: A descriptive observational cross-sectional study involving a total of 25 workers was conducted. Four processes were carried out: collection of demographic data, review of morbidity and absenteeism matrices, environmental sampling for asbestos analysis, and verification of compliance with biosafety measures through a checklist. Subsequently, data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using statistical methods such as mean, median, and mode. Results: It was evidenced that 84% of the studied population had not completed secondary education, and 60% were aged between 18 and 31 years. The absenteeism rate due to respiratory tract diseases was 1.35%. All workers were exposed to asbestos (0.35f/cc; 0.45f/cc). Finally, 60% of the population did not adequately comply with biosafety measures. Conclusions: This study identified a population at high risk of asbestos exposure, which also lacks adequate personal protective measures. Although this exposure may have contributed to the absenteeism rate due to respiratory tract diseases, a directly proportional relationship cannot be established