Sunlight Exposure on the Facial Region of Professional Fishermen: Risk Factors Unveiled
Maristela Freitas dos Santos Datoguia
Postgraduation Program in Health and Environment, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil and Dentistry College, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
Thalita Nascimento Colombo Barboza
Postgraduation Program in Health and Environment, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
Ana Paula Taboada Sobral
Postgraduation Program in Health and Environment, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil and Dentistry College, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
Juliana Maria Altavista Sagretti Gallo
Dentistry College, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil and Postgraduation Program in Veterinary Medicine in The Coastal Environment, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
Nathálie Beatriz do Carmo Silva
Dentistry College, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
Gustavo Duarte Mendes
Postgraduation Program in Health and Environment, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil and Dentistry College, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
Ana Luiza Cabrera Martimbianco
Postgraduation Program in Health and Environment, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
Sandra Kalil Bussadori
Dentistry College, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil and Postgraduation Program in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Marcela Leticia Leal Gonçalves *
Postgraduation Program in Health and Environment, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil and Dentistry College, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
Elaine Marcílio Santos
Postgraduation Program in Health and Environment, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil and Dentistry College, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The coastal regions, due to the professional opportunities related to the sea and the beach, have in their population many individuals who are exposed to the sun daily. Among these professions we can mention fishermen, sailors, dockers and beach vendors. This project aims to evaluate photoexposure, habits and risk factors for the development of lesions in the head and neck region and knowledge of professional fishermen.
Study Design: Observational study.
Place and Duration of Study: Port region of Baixada Santista, SP, Brazil, between November 2022 and March 2023.
Methodology: Individuals who work professionally in industrial boat fishing (n=24) and individuals who neither work nor expose themselves to the sun were selected for control (n=24). Participants answered questions, in order to obtain information about their habits and work activity. They were asked about working hours, time working in the activity, time of exposure to the sun and sun protection. Subsequently, the participants underwent an intra- and extra-oral clinical examination.
Results: The questionnaire results show that most fishermen do not use sunscreen or lip balm, despite the reported high sun exposure. Lip dryness was the most observed aspect in the Fishermen Group, being present in the vast majority of participants (90.47%), compared to 23% in the Control Group.
Conclusion: The clinical relevance of our study lies in the findings that show the necessity to prevent lip dryness and its possible consequences in professional fishermen. There is a need for information regarding lip protection and hydration for this population.
Keywords: Fishermen, portworkers, ultraviolet rays, early cancer detection, precancerous lesions