Prevalência de exposição aos campos eletromagnéticos e justiça ambiental no município de São Paulo / Prevalence of exposure to electromagnetic fields and environmental justice in the city of São Paulo

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

The paper discussed the raising problem of risk in our current technological paradigm, their perception and tolerability, as well as their unequal distribution among the society. The fundamental assumption that emphasizes Environmental Justice refers to the hazards and risks disproportionately or unfairly distributed among the most vulnerable social groups, generally poor and minorities, generated by environmental risks relating to modern life. The raising concern about electromagnetic pollution generated by transmission and use of electric energy has mobilized various sectors of society in the search for answers about the relationship of exposure to electromagnetic fields and risks to health. Therefore, the work aimed to quantify the percentage of people living in areas bordering transmission lines that cross the city of São Paulo, Brazil, and therefore, potentially exposed to EMF generated by these lines. Information on transmission lines were provided by the utilities and geocoded using the geographic information system (GIS) software Mapinfo®. Corridors 0.3T magnetic field were demarcated around the transmission lines, the width of these lines varied with the line charge (kV). Demographic and socioeconomic data was obtained through the census 2000 and included in the GIS in another layer. Through this survey, it was possible to estimate the percentage of the population potentially exposed to electromagnetic fields generated by transmission lines that cross the city of São Paulo, in its more diverse characteristics, such as age, in addition to income and education. The corridors included approximately 1.4% of households, and 1.3% of the population of the city of São Paulo, thus considered exposed to the electromagnetic fields generated by such lines. Through socioeconomic analysis, the study has suggested that the population exposed to electromagnetic fields was most vulnerable, with low levels of income and education, were those who had higher prevalence to reside in these areas. Electromagnetic fields from power lines are another harmful burden delegated to these populations.

ASSUNTO(S)

fatores socioeconômicos primary environmental health electromagnetic fields sistemas de informação geográfica risk factors campos eletromagnéticos prevalência socioeconomic factors fatores de risco geographical information systems atenção primária ambiental prevalence

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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