Cyanogenic residues in flour mills: Assessment of exposure different environmental compartments the Alagoas hinterland

Flour mills play a prominent role in the economy of the state of Alagoas, with more than 500 mills employing around 26,000 workers who process cassava in the rugged countryside of Alagoas. Cassava processing generates waste, such as manioc pulp, which has high concentrations of cyanogenic glycosides. Part of these glycosides promotes the production of hydrocyanic acid, which is released into the air of the flour mills. Due to the lack of management of this waste, workers, the population living around the flour mills and the environment are exposed, since the manipueira is indiscriminately released into the aquatic environment. This book provides information on the characteristics of the waste generated, the impact of its indiscriminate disposal in water bodies, and also assesses the concentration of cyanide in the air of flour mills located in the Alagoas countryside. Questionnaires were used to investigate the knowledge of workers and the exposed community regarding the risks caused by exposure to cyanogenic waste.