Abstract
Objective: Earlier studies associated the chronic exposure to the dust of tobacco leaves with increased occurrence of allergies, skin rashes, rhinitis, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and various respiratory disorders in tobacco farmers and processors. We aimed to investigate if oriental tobacco farm households who store dried tobacco leaves inside their house are more likely to experience and report respiratory and allergic episodes or illnesses than households storing dried tobacco leaves outside the house. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among tobacco farm households within the Caza of Bint Jbeil in South Lebanon. Demographic, socioeconomic, household characteristics and respiratory symptoms were assessed by separate sets of questions. The questionnaire assessed respiratory symptoms, allergies’ and smoking habits using questions items adopted mainly from The European Community Respiratory Health Survey II. Results: A borderline association was found between storage status of tobacco leaves and respiratory symptoms (OR= 1.68 (95% CI= 0.93-3.03, p=0.09). Overall, 37.0% among those who stored tobacco leaves inside their house reported respiratory symptoms in comparison to 26.0% among those who stored tobacco leaves outside. Conclusions: The study findings suggest that indoor storage of dried tobacco leaves can slightly contribute to aggravation of respiratory symptoms. Prospective cohort studies in tobacco farming communities would be useful in determining if indoor storage of dried tobacco leaves can lead to development of asthma and aggravation of symptoms especially among younger age group.
Highlights
Earlier studies among tobacco workers and processers has associated the exposure to tobacco dust with different respiratory disorders such as occupational asthma [1], increased occurrence of chronic respiratory symptoms [1,2] including chronic cough, phlegm, dyspnea, chest tightness, snuffle, snivel and allergic rhinitis [2]; wheezing, attacks of shortness of breath with wheezing, dyspnoea, and rhinitis [3]; chest tightness and wheezing [4]; mild obstructive ventilation disturbances [5] and decreased lung function tests [1,2,6,7], allergic alveolitis [8] and chronic bronchitis [9]
It intends to investigate the hypothesis that occupants of households who store dried tobacco leaves inside the house are more likely to experience and report respiratory and allergic episodes or illnesses than households storing dried tobacco leaves outside the house
39.8% of them produced less than 500 kg of tobacco leaves per year while 21.5% produced above 1,000 kg per year
Summary
Earlier studies among tobacco workers and processers has associated the exposure to tobacco dust with different respiratory disorders such as occupational asthma [1], increased occurrence of chronic respiratory symptoms [1,2] including chronic cough, phlegm, dyspnea, chest tightness, snuffle, snivel and allergic rhinitis [2]; wheezing, attacks of shortness of breath with wheezing, dyspnoea, and rhinitis [3]; chest tightness and wheezing [4]; mild obstructive ventilation disturbances [5] and decreased lung function tests [1,2,6,7], allergic alveolitis [8] and chronic bronchitis [9]. Earlier studies have associated the exposure to tobacco dust with acute episodes of nose and throat dryness as well as eye irritation during work shifts [1], skin allergies [2,10], as well as vomiting, dizziness, and headache [11]. This study is the first to address the oriental tobacco farmers’ house as a work place that puts home attendees at increased risk for chronic respiratory diseases and allergies. It intends to investigate the hypothesis that occupants of households who store dried tobacco leaves inside the house are more likely to experience and report respiratory and allergic episodes or illnesses than households storing dried tobacco leaves outside the house
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