Objetivos: Avaliar a influência da exposição a fatores ambientais inalatórios durante a gravidez e o diagnóstico de dermatomiosite juvenil (DMJ). Métodos: Um estudo caso-controle incluiu 20 casos de DMJ e 56 controles, pareados por idade e sexo, residentes na região metropolitana de São Paulo. Através de um questionário foram obtidos os dados demográficos e os dados de exposição ambiental durante a gravidez: a exposição ocupacional (poeira causada por demolições, construções ou pedreiras, poeira de giz, tintas, verniz, vapor de combustível e fluídos de bateria), a existência de fontes de poluentes inalatórios próximas à residência da mãe e a exposição materna ao tabaco. As concentrações diárias de material particulado (PM10), dióxido de enxofre (SO2), dióxido de nitrogenio (NO2), ozônio (O3) e monóxido de carbono (CO) inalados foram avaliadas durante o período gestacional. Resultados: A exposição ocupacional materna a poeira de giz escolar e a resíduo volátil de gasolina ou diesel no grupo de DMJ foi significantemente maior comparada ao grupo controle (50% vs. 2,3%, p=0,004). Mães fumantes e exposição passiva ao cigarro na residência durante a gravidez foram significantemente maior no grupo de DMJ (20% vs. 1,7%, p=0,01; 35% vs. 16%, p=0,07, respectivamente). No modelo de regressão logística univariada, o fumo materno durante a gravidez, a exposição ocupacional a agentes inalados e a exposição ao CO troposférico no tercil mais elevado (3.2-5.4 ppm) no terceiro trimestre foram significantemente associados com DMJ (p < 0,05). Na análise multivariada, o fumo materno (OR=13,26, IC 95% 1,21-144,29, p=0,03), a exposição ocupacional (OR=35,39, IC 95%1,97-632,80, p=0,01) e a exposição ao CO (terceiro tercil) no terceiro trimestre de gestação (OR=12,21, IC 95%1,28- 115,96, p=0,03) permaneceram como fator de risco para DMJ. Conclusão: A exposição a poluentes inalatórios ambientais e fumaça de cigarro durante o desenvolvimento fetal podem contribuir para o aparecimento de DMJ / Objective: To evaluate the influence of exposures to inhaled environmental factors during pregnancy on juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) diagnosis. Methods: A case-control study included 20 JDM and 56 healthy controls matched by age and gender residents in the metropolitan region of São Paulo city. A questionnaire assessed demographic data and environmental inhalation exposure during pregnancy (occupational exposure to demolition, chalk, construction and/or quarry dust, paints, varnish, fuel vapor and/or battery fluids, stationary sources of inhaled pollution near the mother\'s home and maternal tobacco exposure). Daily concentrations of inhaled particulate matter (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO) were evaluated throughout the gestational period. Results: Maternal occupational exposure to chalk dust/gasoline vapor in JDM group was significantly higher compared to controls (50% vs. 2. 3%, p=0.004). Smoking mothers and secondhand smoke exposure at home during pregnancy were significantly higher in JDM group (20% vs. 1.7%, p=0.01; 35% vs. 16%, p=0.07; respectively). In univariate logistic regression models, maternal smoking, occupational exposure to inhaled agents and the higher tertile of trospospheric CO (3.2-5.4 ppm) in the third trimester were significantly associated with JDM (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, smoking mother (OR=13.26, 95% CI 1.21-144.29, p=0.03), occupational exposure (OR=35.39, 95% CI 1.97-632.80, p=0.01) and CO (third tertile) exposure in the third trimester of gestation (OR=12.21, 95% CI 1.28-115.96, p=0.03) remained risk factors for JDM. Conclusion: Inhaled pollutants and tobacco smoking during fetal development may contribute to JDM

Objetivos: Avaliar a influência da exposição a fatores ambientais inalatórios durante a gravidez e o diagnóstico de dermatomiosite juvenil (DMJ). Métodos: Um estudo caso-controle incluiu 20 casos de DMJ e 56 controles, pareados por idade e sexo, residentes na região metropolitana de São Paulo. Através de um questionário foram obtidos os dados demográficos e os dados de exposição ambiental durante a gravidez: a exposição ocupacional (poeira causada por demolições, construções ou pedreiras, poeira de giz, tintas, verniz, vapor de combustível e fluídos de bateria), a existência de fontes de poluentes inalatórios próximas à residência da mãe e a exposição materna ao tabaco. As concentrações diárias de material particulado (PM10), dióxido de enxofre (SO2), dióxido de nitrogenio (NO2), ozônio (O3) e monóxido de carbono (CO) inalados foram avaliadas durante o período gestacional. Resultados: A exposição ocupacional materna a poeira de giz escolar e a resíduo volátil de gasolina ou diesel no grupo de DMJ foi significantemente maior comparada ao grupo controle (50% vs. 2,3%, p=0,004). Mães fumantes e exposição passiva ao cigarro na residência durante a gravidez foram significantemente maior no grupo de DMJ (20% vs. 1,7%, p=0,01; 35% vs. 16%, p=0,07, respectivamente). No modelo de regressão logística univariada, o fumo materno durante a gravidez, a exposição ocupacional a agentes inalados e a exposição ao CO troposférico no tercil mais elevado (3.2-5.4 ppm) no terceiro trimestre foram significantemente associados com DMJ (p < 0,05). Na análise multivariada, o fumo materno (OR=13,26, IC 95% 1,21-144,29, p=0,03), a exposição ocupacional (OR=35,39, IC 95%1,97-632,80, p=0,01) e a exposição ao CO (terceiro tercil) no terceiro trimestre de gestação (OR=12,21, IC 95%1,28- 115,96, p=0,03) permaneceram como fator de risco para DMJ. Conclusão: A exposição a poluentes inalatórios ambientais e fumaça de cigarro durante o desenvolvimento fetal podem contribuir para o aparecimento de DMJ / Objective: To evaluate the influence of exposures to inhaled environmental factors during pregnancy on juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) diagnosis. Methods: A case-control study included 20 JDM and 56 healthy controls matched by age and gender residents in the metropolitan region of São Paulo city. A questionnaire assessed demographic data and environmental inhalation exposure during pregnancy (occupational exposure to demolition, chalk, construction and/or quarry dust, paints, varnish, fuel vapor and/or battery fluids, stationary sources of inhaled pollution near the mother\'s home and maternal tobacco exposure). Daily concentrations of inhaled particulate matter (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO) were evaluated throughout the gestational period. Results: Maternal occupational exposure to chalk dust/gasoline vapor in JDM group was significantly higher compared to controls (50% vs. 2. 3%, p=0.004). Smoking mothers and secondhand smoke exposure at home during pregnancy were significantly higher in JDM group (20% vs. 1.7%, p=0.01; 35% vs. 16%, p=0.07; respectively). In univariate logistic regression models, maternal smoking, occupational exposure to inhaled agents and the higher tertile of trospospheric CO (3.2-5.4 ppm) in the third trimester were significantly associated with JDM (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, smoking mother (OR=13.26, 95% CI 1.21-144.29, p=0.03), occupational exposure (OR=35.39, 95% CI 1.97-632.80, p=0.01) and CO (third tertile) exposure in the third trimester of gestation (OR=12.21, 95% CI 1.28-115.96, p=0.03) remained risk factors for JDM. Conclusion: Inhaled pollutants and tobacco smoking during fetal development may contribute to JDM

Bibliography: leaves 92-98.

Σκοπός: Να ερευνήσουμε την επίδραση που έχει ο καπνός του τσιγάρου στη συγκέντρωση κορτιζόλης αίματος ομφαλίου λώρου. Μέθοδος: Μετρήθηκαν οι συγκεντρώσεις κορτιζόλης σε αίμα ομφαλίου λώρου 211 τελειόμηνων νεογνών καπνιστριών και 211 τελειόμηνων νεογνών μη καπνιστριών μητέρων. Από αυτά 48 και 36 νεογνά αντίστοιχα, γεννήθηκαν με καισαρική τομή. Σε 16 περιπτώσεις, επιπλέον του αίματος ομφαλίου λώρου, ελήφθη φλεβικό αίμα από τη μητέρα κατά τον τοκετό. Αποτελέσματα: Η διάμεση τιμή κορτιζόλης ομφαλίου λώρου των νεογνών καπνιστριών και μη καπνιστριών μητέρων ήταν 23 και 13 μg/dl αντίστοιχα (Ρ<0.0001) . Οι συγκεντρώσεις κορτιζόλης ήταν μεγαλύτερες στα νεογνά καπνιστριών μητέρων, σε σύγκριση με τα νεογνά μη καπνιστριών μητέρων, είτε γεννήθηκαν με φυσιολογικό τοκετό, είτε με καισαρική τομή. Στα νεογνά που γεννήθηκαν με καισαρική τομή, υπήρχε θετική συσχέτιση μεταξύ του αριθμού των τσιγάρων που καπνίζονταν την ημέρα και των συγκεντρώσεων κορτιζόλης, καθώς και αρνητική συσχέτιση μεταξύ των συγκεντρώσεων κορτιζόλης και του μήκους των νεογνών. Δεν υπήρχε σημαντική συσχέτιση μεταξύ των συγκεντρώσεων κορτιζόλης και του βάρους γέννησης ή της περιμέτρου κεφαλής. Οι συγκεντρώσεις κορτιζόλης στο αίμα ομφαλίου λώρου των νεογνών καπνιστριών και μη καπνιστριών μητέρων ήταν κατά 29% και 45% χαμηλότερες από αυτές των μητέρων τους αντίστοιχα. Συμπεράσματα: Παρόλο που δεν μπόρεσε να αποδειχθεί αιτιολογική σχέση μεταξύ καπνίσματος της μητέρας και αυξημένων συγκεντρώσεων κορτιζόλης ομφαλίου λώρου, τα ευρήματα είναι σύμφωνα με προηγούμενες αναφορές, ενδεικτικές αυξημένων ορμονών στρες στα νεογνά των οποίων οι μητέρες κάπνιζαν κατά την εγκυμοσύνη. / Aim: To investigate the effect of tobacco smoke on cord blood cosrtisol concentrations. Methods: Cortisol concentrations were measured in cord blood from 211 term newborns of smoking and 211 term newborns of nonsmoking mothers; 48 and 36 newborns were delivered by cesarean section, respectively. In 16 cases, in addition to cord blood, maternal venous blood was obtained at delivery. Results: The median cord blood cortisol concentration in neonates of the smoking and the non-smoking mothers was 23 and 13 μg/dL, respectively (P<0.0001). Cortisol concentrations were greater in the newborns whose mothers smoked, when compared to corresponding controls, whether they were delivered vaginally or by cesarean section. In the newborns delivered by cesarean section, there was a positive correlation between number of cigarettes smoked/day and cortisol concentrations, as well as a negative correlation between cortisol concentrations and neonatal length. There was no significant correlation between cortisol concentrations and birth weight or head circumference. Cortisol concentrations in the cord blood of neonates whose mothers were smokers and nonsmokers were by 29% and 45% lower from those measured in their mothers, respectively. Conclusions: Although a causal relationship between maternal smoking and high cortisol concentrations in cord blood was not established, the findings are in accordance with previous reports indicating elevated stress-hormones in newborns whose mothers smoked during pregnancy

One-third of American children under the age of 18 years and one in ten Canadian children aged 0-11 years are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) predisposing them to multiple health problems. Although several intervention strategies to reduce ETS exposure among children have been tested, to date there is not enough evidence to recommend one strategy over another. The objectives of this study were: (a) to test if parents' participation in an intervention based on an empowerment ideology and participatory experiences decreases the number of cigarettes smoked in homes; and (b) to identify barriers to making homes and vehicles smoke-free, as well as facilitators used by parents to manage these barriers. To enable informed decision-making on how to measure empowerment, a systematic review was conducted to identify questionnaires that best measure health-related empowerment among adults and in families. / In a randomized controlled trial, 36 families were allocated to the intervention (n=17) or control group (n=19). The six week intervention included three, two hour group sessions, followed by three follow-up telephone calls, all at weekly intervals. Data were collected in interviewer-administered questionnaires at baseline and at six months follow-up. / No significant difference was detected between the intervention and control groups in the number of cigarettes smoked in the home daily at six months follow-up. However empowerment increased and the number of cigarettes smoked in the home decreased in both the intervention and control groups from baseline (median=17) to six-month follow-up (median=5). / Parents identified multiple barriers to smoke-free homes and vehicles including personal factors, factors involving others, and factors related to the physical environment. The most commonly identified barriers to smoke-free homes were personal factors, with tobacco addiction cited most often. In describing how to overcome barriers, parents identified facilitators involving other people as most effective, yet they most often relied on themselves. None ofthe parents identified a health provider as a facilitator. The multiple and complex barriers identified in this study suggest that interventions and practice guidelines should incorporate multiple strategies and individualized approaches to assist parents to make their homes and vehicles smoke-free.

Antecedentes: En España, hasta 3.200 defunciones anuales son atribuidas al tabaquismo pasivo. La exposición al humo ambiental del tabaco (HAT) aumenta el riesgo de padecer enfermedades crónicas como cáncer de pulmón, enfermedades cardiovasculares y enfermedades respiratorias. Hipótesis: 1) Existe una relación entre la exposición al HAT medida mediante cuestionario y la concentración de cotinina en saliva. 2) La exposición al HAT y la concentración de cotinina en saliva es mayor en los trabajadores del sector de la hostelería que en la población general. 3) El aumento de medidas de control del tabaquismo reduce la prevalencia de exposición al HAT. Objetivos: 1) Caracterizar la exposición al HAT en la población general no fumadora mediante un cuestionario y biomarcador antes de la entrada en vigor de la ley 28/2005 de medidas frente al tabaquismo. 2) Comparar la concentración de cotinina en población general y en trabajadores del sector de la hostelería antes de la entrada en vigor de la ley 28/2005 de medidas frente al tabaquismo. 3) Evaluar la correlación entre las medidas de control del tabaquismo y la prevalencia de exposición al HAT en 27 países de la Unión Europea. Metodología: Para conseguir los objetivos marcados se ha realizado un estudio transversal de la población general de Barcelona, un estudio de una cohorte de trabajadores del sector de la hostelería en 5 Comunidades Autónomas antes de la entrada en vigor de la ley (octubre-diciembre 2005) y seguidos durantes 2 años después de la ley (octubre-diciembre 2007) y un estudio ecológico a partir de los datos del Eurobarometro sobre tabaco. Conclusiones: 1) La prevalencia de exposición al HAT entre los no fumadores en España antes de la entrada en vigor de la ley 28/2005 es elevada y tiene una asociación inversamente con la edad. La concentración de cotinina en saliva se asocia con el número de fumadores en casa y la cantidad de cigarrillos fumados en presencia del no fumador. 2) La prevalencia de exposición al HAT y la concentración de cotinina en saliva en España es mayor entre los trabajadores de la hostelería en comparación con la población general antes de la entrada en vigor de la ley 28/2005. 3) El apoyo a la ley 28/2005, la percepción de su cumplimiento y el acuerdo en prohibir definitivamente el consumo de tabaco en todos los lugares públicos, incluidos bares y restaurantes, ha aumentado entre los trabajadores del sector de la hostelería 2 años después de la entrada en vigor de la ley. 4) A nivel ecológico, los países de la Unión Europea con mayor implementación de políticas sanitarias frente al tabaquismo (medidas mediante la escala propuesta por Joossens y Raw) presentan menor prevalencia de consumo de tabaco y menor prevalencia de exposición al HAT en casa y en el trabajo. Además estos países con mayores políticas frente al tabaquismo tienen un mayor apoyo a las medidas de regulación del consumo de tabaco en todos los lugares públicos. / Background: In Spain, up to 3,200 deaths per year were attributable to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. SHS has been associated with a variety of health effects among non-smokers, especially lung cancer and ischemic heart disease, and respiratory diseases. Hypotheses: 1) There is a relationship between exposure to SHS measured by questionnaire and cotinine concentration in saliva. 2) Exposure to SHS and salivary cotinine concentration are higher in hospitality workers than in the general population. 3) The increasing of the tobacco control measures reduces the prevalence of exposure to SHS. Objectives: 1) To describe the exposure to SHS in non-smokers from the general population using a questionnaire and salivary cotinine concentration before the Spanish smoking ban. 2) To compare the salivary cotinine concentration between non-smokers from the general population and non-smokers hospitality workers before the Spanish smoking ban. 3) To assess the correlation between tobacco control policies and the prevalence of exposure to SHS in the 27 countries of the European Union. Conclusions: 1) The prevalence of exposure to SHS in general population was high before the Spanish smoking ban and it decreases with the age. Salivary cotinine concentration in the general population depends of the number of smokers and the number of cigarettes smoked in presence of non-smokers at home. 2) The prevalence of exposure and salivary cotinine concentration were higher among non-smoker hospitality workers than in the general population before the Spanish smoking ban. 3) Positive attitudes (in favour) towards smoking ban increased after the ban among hospitality workers. 4) At ecological level, the Tobacco Control Scale scores were strongly associated with a lower prevalence of smokers and a lower self-reported exposure to SHS. Moreover, countries with more tobacco control policies have higher support towards smoking bans in all workplaces (including restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs, and other indoor workplaces).

Thesis (Ph.D. in Toxicology) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-174).

This Diploma Thesis bears the theme ?Attitudes of the Pub And Restaurant Employees to the Passive Smoking Problem ? Awareness, Health Influences, Regulation?. The smoking related illnesses and deaths constitute the most difficult problem of the public health care in most countries where smoking is a common habit. Health harm risk owing to tobacco smoke is not limited to smokers only, however even those are exposed to such a harm who inhale the tobacco smoke involuntarily ? ?passive smokers?. The aim of this Thesis was so map the problem and influence of the passive smoking in the environment of pubs and restaurants in České Budějovice. To reach this target, both quantitative and qualitative approach of investigation was used. Respecting the quantitative research via the questionnaire method there were three hypotheses to be defined: ?There is no significant difference between awareness of the passive smoking impacts between the employees of smoking and non-smoking pubs and restaurants?, ?The motivation of pubs and restaurants to keep the smoking concept is, primarily, the fear that they might lose their customers?, ?Employees ? smokers started to smoke owing to their work in the smoking environment?. The first two hypotheses were verified, the third one not. The quantitative research utilized the structured dialogue technique. This part of research included two research questions. The first referred to the employee awareness of passive smoking, the second aimed at fact whether the motivation factor of the pub or restaurant to be pronounced the non-smoking establishment is the care of the employee health. After the research had been completed and analysed, the set target was met. Working on this Thesis I obtained a lot of new findings, and I think that it could be a contribution even to practice and serve as an instructional and information material. In particular, as the Thesis brings brief and clear summary of basic findings concerning the passive smoking and it alerts to topicality and importance of the passive smoking not only in the pubs and restaurants. The Diploma Thesis can be also used to publish the research results in order to improve the working conditions of the pub and restaurant employees alerting them to the passive smoking harmfulness which is often underestimated and marginalized.

Contexto: Há muito tempo se conhecem os malefícios do tabaco, seja para a saúde individual, coletiva e para o meio ambiente. Por outro lado, a sua produção é também considerada uma cultura das mais rentáveis e gera milhares de empregos e renda, tanto para trabalhadores e empresários, quanto para o Estado, através do recolhimento de valores importantes de impostos. Conhecer relações de exposição ao tabaco e seus possíveis danos à comunidade passa a ser uma ação importante, a fim de se avaliar relações de custo-benefício de tal produção. Objetivos: Georreferenciar os casos de internação hospitalar entre 2010 e 2012 da cidade de Santa Cruz do Sul, uma das maiores produtoras de tabaco do país, para encontrar um padrão de distribuição espacial da moradia destas pessoas e as indústrias do tabaco. Métodos: Foi utilizado um estudo ecológico, com georreferenciamento de casos, através do programa Terraview do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, de acordo com patologias específicas, através do banco de dados informatizado dos dois hospitais da cidade. Foram gerados mapas representativos, de Kernel, além da utilização de técnicas específicas para detecção de autocorrelações espaciais, como o Índice Global e Local de Moran, Médias Móveis, G e G* e Taxas Bayesianas Empíricas. As unidades de área estudadas foram os bairros da cidade, com informações do censo do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística de 2010. Resultados: Constavam nos registros hospitalares brutos 49.347 registros, sendo 33.377 do Hospital Santa Cruz e 15.970 do Hospital Ana Nery. Após a limpeza dos bancos, através dos critérios de exclusão determinados, foram elegíveis para o georreferenciamento dos casos de internação por neoplasias 285 (0,34%) casos e por doença respiratória 1.013 (2,05%). Em ambos os contextos de causas para internação, não houve uma distribuição espacial que determinasse uma autocorrelação, ou seja, não se demonstrou, no período estudado e para estes dois motivos de internação, que os casos estivessem correlacionados entre si, em se tratando de distribuição no espaço geográfico, tanto da cidade, quanto do entorno das fumageiras. Alguns aspectos relativos a taxas de incidência foram observados entre os anos, com a apresentação de aglomerados (clusters). Conclusões: O uso do delineamento ecológico como forma de se iniciar uma observação entre padrões de eventos dentro de grupos populacionais continua a ser uma ótima ferramenta. Suas fraquezas incluem a alta dependência da qualidade dos dados secundários registrados, que, se não forem cuidadosamente coletados e avaliados, podem diminuir em muito as forças dos achados. Parece não haver um padrão de distribuição espacial das residências de pessoas que foram internadas em um dos hospitais da cidade de Santa Cruz do Sul entre os anos de 2010 e 2012, em relação a neoplasias e doenças respiratórias, tampouco uma correlação com proximidades às indústrias fumageiras. / Background: The dangers of smoking are well known, both for individual, collective health, and for the environment. On the other hand, its production is also considered one of the most profitable crop and generates thousands of jobs and income for both workers and employers, and in the State, through the gathering of important tax values. Meet the relationships of tobacco exposure and the possible damage to the community becomes an important action in order to evaluate the cost-benefit of such production. Objectives: To georeference cases of hospitalization between 2010 and 2012 in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, one of the largest tobacco producing in Brazil, to find a pattern of spatial of housing distribution of these people and the location of tobacco industries. Methods: An ecological approach with georeferenced cases by the Terraview software from the National Institute for Space Research, under specific conditions, through the computerized database of the two city hospitals. Representative maps were generated, like Kernel’s map, and the use of specific techniques to detect spatial autocorrelation, such as the Moran Global and Local Index, Moving Averages, G and G * and Empirical Bayesian Exchange. The units studied area were the city's neighborhoods with census data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, 2010. Results: There were available 49.347 records in hospital records, being 33.377 from the Santa Cruz Hospital and 15,970 from The Ana Nery Hospital. After cleaning the database, through certain exclusion criteria, 285 neoplasms admissions and 1,103 respiratory diseases were eligible for the georeferencing of hospitalization. In both contexts, there was no one that would determine spatial autocorrelation, ie, was not shown, during the study period and for these two reasons for hospitalization, the cases were correlated with each other, in the case of distribution in geographical space, both for the city, and the surrounding of the tobacco companies. Some aspects of the incidence rates were observed between years, with the presentation of clusters observed. Conclusions: The use of the ecological design as a way to start a note between patterns of events within population groups continues to be a great tool. Their weaknesses include the high dependence of the quality of secondary data, which, if not carefully collected and evaluated, may strongly decrease the strength of findings. There seems not to be a pattern of spatial distribution of the residences of people who were admitted to a hospital in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul between the years 20100 and 2012 in relation to cancer and respiratory diseases, nor a correlation with the nearby tobacco industries.

Contexto: Há muito tempo se conhecem os malefícios do tabaco, seja para a saúde individual, coletiva e para o meio ambiente. Por outro lado, a sua produção é também considerada uma cultura das mais rentáveis e gera milhares de empregos e renda, tanto para trabalhadores e empresários, quanto para o Estado, através do recolhimento de valores importantes de impostos. Conhecer relações de exposição ao tabaco e seus possíveis danos à comunidade passa a ser uma ação importante, a fim de se avaliar relações de custo-benefício de tal produção. Objetivos: Georreferenciar os casos de internação hospitalar entre 2010 e 2012 da cidade de Santa Cruz do Sul, uma das maiores produtoras de tabaco do país, para encontrar um padrão de distribuição espacial da moradia destas pessoas e as indústrias do tabaco. Métodos: Foi utilizado um estudo ecológico, com georreferenciamento de casos, através do programa Terraview do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, de acordo com patologias específicas, através do banco de dados informatizado dos dois hospitais da cidade. Foram gerados mapas representativos, de Kernel, além da utilização de técnicas específicas para detecção de autocorrelações espaciais, como o Índice Global e Local de Moran, Médias Móveis, G e G* e Taxas Bayesianas Empíricas. As unidades de área estudadas foram os bairros da cidade, com informações do censo do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística de 2010. Resultados: Constavam nos registros hospitalares brutos 49.347 registros, sendo 33.377 do Hospital Santa Cruz e 15.970 do Hospital Ana Nery. Após a limpeza dos bancos, através dos critérios de exclusão determinados, foram elegíveis para o georreferenciamento dos casos de internação por neoplasias 285 (0,34%) casos e por doença respiratória 1.013 (2,05%). Em ambos os contextos de causas para internação, não houve uma distribuição espacial que determinasse uma autocorrelação, ou seja, não se demonstrou, no período estudado e para estes dois motivos de internação, que os casos estivessem correlacionados entre si, em se tratando de distribuição no espaço geográfico, tanto da cidade, quanto do entorno das fumageiras. Alguns aspectos relativos a taxas de incidência foram observados entre os anos, com a apresentação de aglomerados (clusters). Conclusões: O uso do delineamento ecológico como forma de se iniciar uma observação entre padrões de eventos dentro de grupos populacionais continua a ser uma ótima ferramenta. Suas fraquezas incluem a alta dependência da qualidade dos dados secundários registrados, que, se não forem cuidadosamente coletados e avaliados, podem diminuir em muito as forças dos achados. Parece não haver um padrão de distribuição espacial das residências de pessoas que foram internadas em um dos hospitais da cidade de Santa Cruz do Sul entre os anos de 2010 e 2012, em relação a neoplasias e doenças respiratórias, tampouco uma correlação com proximidades às indústrias fumageiras. / Background: The dangers of smoking are well known, both for individual, collective health, and for the environment. On the other hand, its production is also considered one of the most profitable crop and generates thousands of jobs and income for both workers and employers, and in the State, through the gathering of important tax values. Meet the relationships of tobacco exposure and the possible damage to the community becomes an important action in order to evaluate the cost-benefit of such production. Objectives: To georeference cases of hospitalization between 2010 and 2012 in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul, one of the largest tobacco producing in Brazil, to find a pattern of spatial of housing distribution of these people and the location of tobacco industries. Methods: An ecological approach with georeferenced cases by the Terraview software from the National Institute for Space Research, under specific conditions, through the computerized database of the two city hospitals. Representative maps were generated, like Kernel’s map, and the use of specific techniques to detect spatial autocorrelation, such as the Moran Global and Local Index, Moving Averages, G and G * and Empirical Bayesian Exchange. The units studied area were the city's neighborhoods with census data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, 2010. Results: There were available 49.347 records in hospital records, being 33.377 from the Santa Cruz Hospital and 15,970 from The Ana Nery Hospital. After cleaning the database, through certain exclusion criteria, 285 neoplasms admissions and 1,103 respiratory diseases were eligible for the georeferencing of hospitalization. In both contexts, there was no one that would determine spatial autocorrelation, ie, was not shown, during the study period and for these two reasons for hospitalization, the cases were correlated with each other, in the case of distribution in geographical space, both for the city, and the surrounding of the tobacco companies. Some aspects of the incidence rates were observed between years, with the presentation of clusters observed. Conclusions: The use of the ecological design as a way to start a note between patterns of events within population groups continues to be a great tool. Their weaknesses include the high dependence of the quality of secondary data, which, if not carefully collected and evaluated, may strongly decrease the strength of findings. There seems not to be a pattern of spatial distribution of the residences of people who were admitted to a hospital in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul between the years 20100 and 2012 in relation to cancer and respiratory diseases, nor a correlation with the nearby tobacco industries.