Green Tobacco Sickness: Difference between revisions
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=== Epidemiology === |
=== Epidemiology === |
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A majority of the tobacco that is produced is grown in China, Brazil and India, and the United States. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Riquinho |first=Deise Lisboa |last2=Hennington |first2=Elida Azevedo |date=2012-06 |title=Health, environment and working conditions in tobacco cultivation: a review of the literature |url=https://www.scielo.br/j/csc/a/VK8LLNXFVJ4vF8QyD4PXykn/?lang=en |journal=Ciência & Saúde Coletiva |language=en |volume=17 |pages=1587–1600 |doi=10.1590/S1413-81232012000600022 |issn=1413-8123}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=McKnight |first=Robert H. |last2=Spiller |first2=Henry A. |date=2005 |title=Green Tobacco Sickness in Children and Adolescents |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497768/ |journal=Public Health Reports |volume=120 |issue=6 |pages=602–606 |issn=0033-3549 |pmc=1497768 |pmid=16350329}}</ref> It is estimated than over 15 million people contribute to the process of farming tobacco worldwide. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tobacco economics |url=https://www.pmi.com/tobacco-economics |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.pmi.com |language=en}}</ref> Previous publications attempting to determine the prevalence of GTS typically only report the prevalence of this illness in one area during one farming season. Reported prevalence rates from these studies range from 8.2-47%, so further research is necessary to be able to definitively state the prevalence of GTS. <ref name=":0" /> The long-term health |
A majority of the tobacco that is produced is grown in China, Brazil and India, and the United States. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Riquinho |first=Deise Lisboa |last2=Hennington |first2=Elida Azevedo |date=2012-06 |title=Health, environment and working conditions in tobacco cultivation: a review of the literature |url=https://www.scielo.br/j/csc/a/VK8LLNXFVJ4vF8QyD4PXykn/?lang=en |journal=Ciência & Saúde Coletiva |language=en |volume=17 |pages=1587–1600 |doi=10.1590/S1413-81232012000600022 |issn=1413-8123}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=McKnight |first=Robert H. |last2=Spiller |first2=Henry A. |date=2005 |title=Green Tobacco Sickness in Children and Adolescents |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497768/ |journal=Public Health Reports |volume=120 |issue=6 |pages=602–606 |issn=0033-3549 |pmc=1497768 |pmid=16350329}}</ref> It is estimated than over 15 million people contribute to the process of farming tobacco worldwide. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tobacco economics |url=https://www.pmi.com/tobacco-economics |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.pmi.com |language=en}}</ref> Previous publications attempting to determine the prevalence of GTS typically only report the prevalence of this illness in one area during one farming season. Reported prevalence rates from these studies range from 8.2-47%, so further research is necessary to be able to definitively state the prevalence of GTS. <ref name=":0" /> The long-term health outcomes for individuals who experience GTS are not known.<ref name=":2" /> |
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Workers that are involved in directly harvesting the tobacco by hand are at the highest risk for developing GTS, especially those who harvest in the early morning in the presence of dew, those working with wet clothes, and those working with wet tobacco plants. <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=NASD - NIOSH Issues Warning to Tobacco Harvesters |url=https://nasdonline.org/1183/d001025/niosh-issues-warning-to-tobacco-harvesters.html |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=nasdonline.org}}</ref> Those involved in barning the tobacco, a process in which the leaves are hung up to be cured, are also at a higher risk. <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Tobacco Barn (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/places/the-tobacco-barn.htm |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref> Individuals who are new to working on tobacco farms could also be at an elevated risk due to a lack of knowledge about GTS as well as having little experience with safe harvesting practices. It is also suggested that some workers may be at a lower risk than others due to activities that may increase their nicotine tolerance, such as personal tobacco use or a long history harvesting tobacco. <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> |
Workers that are involved in directly harvesting the tobacco by hand are at the highest risk for developing GTS, especially those who harvest in the early morning in the presence of dew, those working with wet clothes, and those working with wet tobacco plants. <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=NASD - NIOSH Issues Warning to Tobacco Harvesters |url=https://nasdonline.org/1183/d001025/niosh-issues-warning-to-tobacco-harvesters.html |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=nasdonline.org}}</ref> Those involved in barning the tobacco, a process in which the leaves are hung up to be cured, are also at a higher risk. <ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Tobacco Barn (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/places/the-tobacco-barn.htm |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref> Individuals who are new to working on tobacco farms could also be at an elevated risk due to a lack of knowledge about GTS as well as having little experience with safe harvesting practices. It is also suggested that some workers may be at a lower risk than others due to activities that may increase their nicotine tolerance, such as personal tobacco use or a long history harvesting tobacco. <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> |
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The illness will resolve on its own within one to two days, but symptoms may be so severe as to require emergency medical treatment. |
The illness will resolve on its own within one to two days, but symptoms may be so severe as to require emergency medical treatment. |
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The long-term health outcomes for individuals exposed to nicotine transdermally for extended periods of time are not known.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-3-health-effects/3-20-tobacco-poisoning/ |title=Tobacco in Australia |access-date=2010-02-15 |archive-date=2010-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113143100/http://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-3-health-effects/3-20-tobacco-poisoning |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 20:07, 12 April 2024
Tobacco plants that have yet to be cured are referred to as "green tobacco", and are associated with Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS), a type of nicotine poisoning caused by the transdermal absorption of nicotine from the surface uncured plants.[1][2] Nicotine is a water soluble chemical, therefore the risk of GTS is elevated if this chemical from the tobacco plants mixes with any sort of moisture.[1][3]
Green Tobacco Sickness is characterized by a wide range of symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and severe weakness.[2] These symptoms may be accompanied by fluctuations in blood pressure or heart rate. Abdominal cramping, chills, increased sweating, salivation and difficulty breathing are also common.[2]
Epidemiology
A majority of the tobacco that is produced is grown in China, Brazil and India, and the United States. [4][5] It is estimated than over 15 million people contribute to the process of farming tobacco worldwide. [6] Previous publications attempting to determine the prevalence of GTS typically only report the prevalence of this illness in one area during one farming season. Reported prevalence rates from these studies range from 8.2-47%, so further research is necessary to be able to definitively state the prevalence of GTS. [1] The long-term health outcomes for individuals who experience GTS are not known.[3]
Workers that are involved in directly harvesting the tobacco by hand are at the highest risk for developing GTS, especially those who harvest in the early morning in the presence of dew, those working with wet clothes, and those working with wet tobacco plants. [1][7] Those involved in barning the tobacco, a process in which the leaves are hung up to be cured, are also at a higher risk. [1][8] Individuals who are new to working on tobacco farms could also be at an elevated risk due to a lack of knowledge about GTS as well as having little experience with safe harvesting practices. It is also suggested that some workers may be at a lower risk than others due to activities that may increase their nicotine tolerance, such as personal tobacco use or a long history harvesting tobacco. [1][3]
Tobacco harvesters, whose clothing becomes saturated from tobacco wet with rain or morning dew, are at high risk of developing GTS. Workers can avoid getting this sickness by waiting to harvest until the tobacco leaves are dry, or by wearing a rain suit. Wet clothing that has come in contact with tobacco leaves should be removed immediately and the skin should be washed with warm soapy water.
Nicotine from other sources, including nicotine gum, a nicotine patch or electronic cigarette, or other tobacco products like cigarettes or smokeless tobacco, appears to reduce the risk of GTS due to the body adapting to the intake of nicotine.
The illness will resolve on its own within one to two days, but symptoms may be so severe as to require emergency medical treatment.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Fotedar, Shailee; Fotedar, Vikas (2017). "Green Tobacco Sickness: A Brief Review". Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 21 (3): 101. doi:10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_160_17. ISSN 0973-2284. PMC 5868082. PMID 29618907.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ a b c Schep, Leo J.; Slaughter, Robin J.; Beasley, D. Michael G. (2009-09). "Nicotinic plant poisoning". Clinical Toxicology. 47 (8): 771–781. doi:10.1080/15563650903252186. ISSN 1556-3650.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c Occupational Safety and Health Administration. "Green Tobacco Sickness".
- ^ Riquinho, Deise Lisboa; Hennington, Elida Azevedo (2012-06). "Health, environment and working conditions in tobacco cultivation: a review of the literature". Ciência & Saúde Coletiva. 17: 1587–1600. doi:10.1590/S1413-81232012000600022. ISSN 1413-8123.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ McKnight, Robert H.; Spiller, Henry A. (2005). "Green Tobacco Sickness in Children and Adolescents". Public Health Reports. 120 (6): 602–606. ISSN 0033-3549. PMC 1497768. PMID 16350329.
- ^ "Tobacco economics". www.pmi.com. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ "NASD - NIOSH Issues Warning to Tobacco Harvesters". nasdonline.org. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
- ^ "The Tobacco Barn (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
Further reading
- Recommended Practices: Green Tobacco Sickness, from National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
- Warning to tobacco harvesters, from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
- Learning About Green Tobacco Sickness, from the National Agricultural Safety Database.
- Quandt SA, et al. Migrant farmworkers and Green Tobacco Sickness: New issues for understudied disease. Am J Ind Med. 2000;37:307-315.