Abstract
Objective: Check the respiratory impacts from inhalation of particulate matter and vapors during the handling and processing of the palm coconut in workers southern Bahia mesoregion. Methods: This is a quantitative and observational study carried out with 43 male individuals. A questionnaire was applied to participants with sociodemographic variables and labor conditions as a data collection tool. The questionnaire American Thoracic Society - Division of Lung Disease – 1978-A was used for detecting signs and respiratory symptoms. The Measurement of the expiration flow was performed by adult Peak Flow Meter, in which the variation of the expired air flow between 90 and 900 L/min was recorded. Results: The most frequent symptoms were dyspnea, secretiveness and cough. There was moderate correlation between the service time variable and the expired flow found (p=0,006). The higher the sample service time, the lower the peak of flow found. The expiry flow was less than estimated at 97% of workers (p<0,02). Conclusion: In this sample, the occupational dust combined with inhalation of vapors from the process of sterilization has caused impact on the respiratory system of workers according to the types and frequency of the signs and symptoms presented.