Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure Among Korean Workers: National Working Condition Survey

Abstract

PP-30-106 Background/Aims: We investigated worker's environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposures by industry type and socioeconomic variables. Methods: The study population comprised 10,043 workers who participated in Korea National Working Condition Survey in 2006. Interviewers visited randomly selected households and interviewed every worker. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression models were used for the analysis Results: ETS exposure of men (23%) was twice that of women (12%). High ETS exposure occurred in construction (39.5%), machinery (34.1%), entertainment (30.3%), transportation (29.8%), and electric/electronics (27.7%) population. Low exposure was reported in education/science (3%), finance (6%), religion (7%), health (7%) and communication (7%) jobs. Non-regular job was more likely exposed to ETS than did regular job (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.59). Longer working hours (above 45 hours) were associated with ETS exposure (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.59). Smoking (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.99, 1.36) and drinking alcohol (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.68) were also associated with higher exposure. Especially among women, ETS exposure showed greater association with smoking (OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.48, 4.3) and drinking (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.48, 4.25). Higher income (above 3000$/month vs. below 1000$/month, OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.69), higher education (graduate school vs. middle school, OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.91), and lager company (above 1000 employees vs. below 100 employees, OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.76) were predictors for lower ETS exposure. Conclusion: Since 1995, even though smoke-free workplace policy has been gradually strengthened in South Korea, the protection of workers from ETS exposures still has a large room for improvement. Blue-collar and service workers are more likely than other types of workers to be exposed to ETS in the workplace. ETS exposure also showed inequality by socioeconomic position (education, occupational class, employment status, and household income). Additional measures are needed to increase the number of smoke-free workplaces.