Prevalence and Risk Factors of Green Tobacco Sickness among Korean Tobacco Harvesters.
- Author:
Hyun Sul LIM
1
;
Kwan LEE
;
Si Hyun NAM
Author Information
1. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Korea. wisewine@dongguk.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Green tobacco sickness;
Tobacco;
Nicotine;
Poisoning
- MeSH:
Cotinine;
Dizziness;
Epidemiologic Studies;
Family Characteristics;
Female;
Headache;
Humans;
Incidence;
Korea;
Logistic Models;
Male;
Nausea;
Nicotine;
Odds Ratio;
Poisoning;
Prevalence*;
Risk Factors*;
Smoke;
Smoking;
Sweat;
Sweating;
Tobacco*;
Vomiting
- From:Korean Journal of Preventive Medicine
2004;37(1):37-43
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to understand the prevalence and risk factors of green tobacco sickness (GTS) among Korean tobacco harvesters. METHODS: The authors conducted a questionnaire among the tobacco harvesters (1, 064 persons from 555 out of 723 tobacco harvesting households) in Cheongsong-gun for 4 days from May 7 to 10, 2002. RESULTS: The study subjects were 550 males and 514 females. The recognition and experience of GTS up until 2001 were 96.4% and 61.9%, respectively. The prevalence of GTS in 2001 was 42.5%, and was significantly higher in females than in males (59.0% vs. 26.6%, p< 0.01). The incidence density of GTS according to the number of workdays in 2001 was 12.3 spells/100 person' days. The GTS symptoms reported by the tobacco harvesters in 2001 were dizziness in 441 cases (97.6%), nausea in 414 (91.6%), headache in 349 (77.2%) and vomiting in 343 (75.9%). The use of gloves, hat and wristlets, sweating at work and the number of working hours significantly increased the prevalence of GTS (p< 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors significantly associated with GTS. Odds ratios for smoking, working over 10 hours and sweating at work were 0.26 (95% CI: 0.19-0.35), 1.64 (95% CI: 1.26-2.14) and 1.60 (95% CI: 1.14-2.25), respectively. Of those who reported GTS in 2001, 311 cases (68.8%) underwent treatment from their local medical facilities. CONCLUSION: In Korea, there are many tobaccoharvesting households, and most may be stricken with GTS. More extensive epidemiological studies, including heincidence and associated risk factors, are expected and a surveillance system including measurements of cotinine in urine should be conducted.
