Green Tobacco Sickness Among Minority Farmworkers
Green Tobacco Sickness Among Minority Farmworkers
Background: Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness among tobacco workers. Working in wet tobacco is a major risk factor for GTS. Little is known about preventing GTS. This analysis examines possible GTS preventive measures.
Methods: Data were collected from 36 patients with GTS and 40 controls who presented at clinics in eastern North Carolina in 1999 and 2000. Each participant completed an interview that included questions about their personal characteristics, work characteristics, and GTS risk factors.
Results: Participants were Mexican men. Those with GTS were much less likely to have worn rain suits while working in wet tobacco and more likely to be in the United States on a work contract.
Conclusions: Wearing a rain suit while working in wet tobacco can significantly reduce the risk of GTS among tobacco workers. Care must be taken that farmworkers do not have heat stress from wearing rain suits.
Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness affecting workers who cultivate and harvest tobacco. An estimated 24% of workers have this illness each season, and workers experience almost 2 days of illness for every 100 days at risk. Green tobacco sickness is nicotine poisoning that results from dermal absorption of nicotine when workers come into contact with the tobacco plant. The common symptoms of GTS include nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness. Additional symptoms may include abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, and difficulty breathing. Workers can become severely dehydrated. Earlier research showed that major GTS risk factors include working in wet tobacco, harvesting tobacco, and lack of experience in tobacco work. Ghosh et al found that gloves were effective in reducing nicotine absorption. No further studies have examined protective measures agricultural workers can take to prevent GTS. The aim of this analysis was to determine possible preventive measures for GTS through the comparison of clinic-based cases and controls.
Background: Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness among tobacco workers. Working in wet tobacco is a major risk factor for GTS. Little is known about preventing GTS. This analysis examines possible GTS preventive measures.
Methods: Data were collected from 36 patients with GTS and 40 controls who presented at clinics in eastern North Carolina in 1999 and 2000. Each participant completed an interview that included questions about their personal characteristics, work characteristics, and GTS risk factors.
Results: Participants were Mexican men. Those with GTS were much less likely to have worn rain suits while working in wet tobacco and more likely to be in the United States on a work contract.
Conclusions: Wearing a rain suit while working in wet tobacco can significantly reduce the risk of GTS among tobacco workers. Care must be taken that farmworkers do not have heat stress from wearing rain suits.
Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a highly prevalent occupational illness affecting workers who cultivate and harvest tobacco. An estimated 24% of workers have this illness each season, and workers experience almost 2 days of illness for every 100 days at risk. Green tobacco sickness is nicotine poisoning that results from dermal absorption of nicotine when workers come into contact with the tobacco plant. The common symptoms of GTS include nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness. Additional symptoms may include abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, and difficulty breathing. Workers can become severely dehydrated. Earlier research showed that major GTS risk factors include working in wet tobacco, harvesting tobacco, and lack of experience in tobacco work. Ghosh et al found that gloves were effective in reducing nicotine absorption. No further studies have examined protective measures agricultural workers can take to prevent GTS. The aim of this analysis was to determine possible preventive measures for GTS through the comparison of clinic-based cases and controls.
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