ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND LUNG FUNCTION AMONG BRICK INDUSTRY WORKERS IN TLAJOMULCO DE ZÚÑIGA

Abstract

Artisanal brick production is a relevant economic activity in peri‑urban areas of Mexico; however, it is often carried out under conditions of informality and poor environmental regulation. In Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, this industry impacts air quality and exposes workers and nearby communities to respiratory risks. The aim of the study was to assess PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter levels in a brick kiln cluster and to analyze their association with workers’ lung function. Using a cross‑sectional observational design, PM2.5 and PM10 were measured in three zones of the cluster, and results were compared with WHO and SEMARNAT limits. In addition, surveys and spirometry tests were administered to 36 workers and interpreted according to international standards. The firing zone showed the highest PM2.5 concentrations, reaching up to 2624.9 μg/m³, exceeding WHO and SEMARNAT limits by more than 50 times. As for PM10, the maximum value reached 4496.2 μg/m³, surpassing the WHO limit by more than 100 times. In the lung function assessment (n=36), 19.5% of workers presented an obstructive pattern, and a significant negative correlation was identified between years worked and the FEV1/FVC ratio (ρ=−0.347; p=0.038). The findings show how this economic activity, located in the urban periphery, can generate environmental degradation without immediate manifestations of health effects. This situation reveals forms of structural vulnerability associated with the production of urban space, where environmental exposure, labor informality, and limited health surveillance converge.