Protective and destructive processes of the health of the sericulture's workers

ABSTRACT This article identifies the protective and destructive processes of the health of sericulture's workers in Paraná. It is a qualitative study, with a group of silk cocoon producers in the municipalities of Arapongas and Diamante do Sul. The lifestyle of the families is characterized by: difficulty of autonomous production lines; development of many activities to compose income; contact with toxic chemicals; long working hours; situations of suffering. As protective processes, the organization of the workers and the access to some public policy. Monitoring the health of these workers is urgently required, especially, regarding the use of formaldehyde.