IntroductionAlto do Moura, a neighborhood located in the city of Caruaru, state of
Pernambuco, Brazil, is known by the production of figurative art in clay,
which uses wood as the main fuel in its finishing process. Chronic exposure
to toxic gases released in combustion can trigger respiratory atopies.ObjectivesTo identify children with respiratory atopies accompanied by the Alto do
Moura Family Health Unit and the spatial distribution of furnaces used in
the burning of figurative art in clay.MethodsThis was an exploratory, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study
analyzing 596 medical records of children with respiratory atopies living in
the aforementioned neighborhood from July 2018 to October 2020. Fifty-two
children aged 2 to 10 years were identified. A sociodemographic
questionnaire was applied, and the location of furnaces, source of smoke,
was mapped. Data were collected using the HC Maps®application, which stores and generates an electronic spreadsheet for
analysis. The prevalence of respiratory atopies and the average distance
between children’s homes and furnaces were calculated.ResultsA prevalence of respiratory atopies of 8.6% was found in the population
studied. Allergic rhinitis was the most common diagnosis, followed by
asthma. School-age children were the most affected group, and the average
distance between children’s homes and furnaces was 76.8 meters.ConclusionsThe presence of environmental pollution resulting from burning wood for
making figurative art in clay may be contributing to the occurrence of
respiratory atopies in children. Preventive measures, such as using exhaust
fans, opening windows, and increasing ventilation, should be encouraged.