The Effect of Smoking on Work-Related Diseases and the Consequences of Exposure to Occupational Harmful Agents at Workplace

Abstract

Background: Cross-sectional studies have shown that smokers have lower mental and physical health status than non-smokers. Smoking also has aggravating effects on workers who were exposed to the harmful factors of the work environment, noise, and asbestos. Materials and Methods: The present study is a review and similar to other review studies, it was done by examining the findings and results of other studies. In order to search for related materials, keywords and their synonyms were searched in medical databases and their contents were analyzed and classified into three areas. Results: These areas include "aggravating effects of smoking in workers exposed to noise", "aggravating effects of smoking in workers exposed to asbestos" and "the effects of smoking on cognitive performance of workers". Conclusion: The results of the studies showed that education about the aggravating effects of smoking on occupational diseases, medical examinations of workers, elimination or limitation of asbestos use, and conducting psychological tests can be suggested as suitable solutions that fit the culture and capabilities of the country’s health system.