Industrial tobacco dusts’ exposure chronic impacts on workers’ health

Abstract

Background: Tobacco industry develops rapidly, employs millions workers worldwide, increasing incident of workers' health problems caused by tobacco dusts' exposure (TDE). TDE may lead to tobaccosis that is difficult to detect due to the prolonged occurrence. The aim of this study was to determine the chronic impacts of TDE. Methods: This study used an analytic cross sectional approach, and recruited 108 non-smoking indoor tobacco industry workers at Jember, Indonesia. They were classified into three groups based on TDE length of time; TO(0-5 years), T1 (6-19 years), and T2 (~20 years). Data were collected by questionnaire to evaluate workers' health history and vital signs' examination to evaluate workers' general health. As an addition, Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) and hematological changing were being measured. Results: Health history result showed that the problems occurred on the body entrance of tobacco dust, e.g. respiratory, eyes and skin disorder, and these problems were more common in TO group. General health result showed about half workers had tachypnea and high blood pressure in T1 and T2 group. ABI measurement showed no arterial disease, but it was significantly lower in T1 group compare to TOgroup. The Somers' D correlation test between TDE length of time and hematocrit level showed a strong negative correlation value of -0,776 and significance value of 0.000. Low hematocrit level indicated the suppression of bone marrow that was possibly caused by nicotine effect from TDE. Before showing a decline in T2 group, hematocrit level was first incline from 4 years to 10 years' exposure, possibly caused by the compensation ability on extra-medullar hematopoiesis. Conclusions: Industrial TDE chronic impacts on workers' health similar to chronic impacts of nicotine exposure and the study of hematological changing pattern is suggested to be developed as screening examination of tobaccosis because it is applicable annually on workers' general health examination.