A study conducted by the Aggeu Magalhães Institute (Fiocruz Pernambuco) and UFBA (Federal University of Bahia) reveals that small-scale fishermen suffered double and continuous exposure to oil following the spill that struck the Northeast coast in 2019. The communities were exposed to oil not only during fishing activities but also while directly participating in cleanup efforts on beaches, in mangroves, rivers, and reefs, often without adequate protective equipment. This combination of exposures significantly increases health risks and may lead to impacts that only manifest many years after the disaster.
Published in the journal Cadernos de Saúde Pública, the study employed a cross-sectional epidemiological design and interviewed 1,259 small-scale fishermen registered in 27 fishing communities and associations along the coast of Pernambuco. More than 95% of the participants relied on fishing as their primary source of income and were actively engaged in the profession at the time of the spill. Among the symptoms reported in the months following the disaster, headaches, migraines, and burning eyes stood out—signs consistent with exposure to toxic compounds present in the oil.
The northern coast of Pernambuco had the highest percentage of people with high exposure to oil—17.1% compared to 15.4% for the total sample—with this group consisting mainly of women.
“The study’s key distinction is showing that the disaster was not a one-time event. It became part of the daily lives of these populations, who depend directly on the contaminated environment to survive. This results in prolonged exposure, linked to the way of life of these communities,” explains José Erivaldo Gonçalves, who holds a Ph.D. in Public Health from Fiocruz Pernambuco and serves as the research’s field coordinator.
Even years after the spill, researchers warn that there are still reasons for concern regarding the health of these communities. Substances found in oil, such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, can cause acute, subacute, and chronic effects. Benzene, for example, is internationally classified as carcinogenic, regardless of dose, and is associated with the development of cancers and hematological changes that may arise 20 to 30 years after exposure. “The effects of oil exposure do not disappear over time. In many cases, they only manifest decades later. That is why it is essential to monitor these populations over the years,” warns the researcher.
International studies on major spills, such as the one in the Gulf of Mexico, indicate a higher incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, psychological distress—such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder—as well as pregnancy complications. For the authors, the results reinforce the need for continuous monitoring of the health of artisanal fishermen and fisherwomen in Brazil who are exposed to oil.
The research can directly contribute to the formulation of public health, labor, and environmental policies by identifying the most vulnerable groups and providing a scientific basis for health surveillance initiatives targeting workers and populations exposed to environmental disasters. The classification of exposure levels can also guide prevention, care, and clinical follow-up strategies, particularly within the Unified Health System (SUS).
Among the project’s next steps are studies seeking to link exposure levels to respiratory and neurological symptoms and other health conditions, as well as the implementation of a biomarker monitoring network.
The survey is part of the project “Oil Spill and the Health of the People of the Waters,” coordinated by researchers Idê Gurgel and Mariana Olívia of Fiocruz Pernambuco. The research was developed in partnership with social movements and community organizations to ensure a participatory approach grounded in the realities of the affected territories. The study was funded by the Ministry of Health, the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the Pernambuco State Foundation for the Support of Science and Technology (Facepe), and the Fiocruz Program for the Promotion of Innovation – Inova Fiocruz.
This article was originally published by Agência Bori.