Working Safely with Tobacco

During the summer, my nurse partner and I undertook an important cause-- education for working safely with tobacco. This health concern is especially relevant in our community in which around 90% of families cultivate tobacco. With limited job availability in the village and limited marketable goods, many are left without options and are forced into growing and selling tobacco in order to have some form of household income. A lack of technology makes labor-intensive work becomes a family affair, and, unfortunately, this work is not without risk.

Working with and around tobacco poses many health risks. Nicotine and other toxins are absorbed from tobacco leaves into the skin and increase the risk for cancer. Shorter-term problems may arise including nicotine poisoning (absorption of large amounts of nicotine through the skin or by ingestion) and Tobacco Worker's Lung (inhalation of molds which causes lung inflammation).

Of course there exist general health risks associated with working in the sun as well. Dehydration and sun burn add to the dangers associated with tobacco cultivation.

The good news is, that while we can't eliminate all risk associated with tobacco cultivation, we can at least lessen risks by being staying protected. My partner and I worked to educate community members through seminars conducted at the school, medical center and mayor's office. (Picture below at the school.)

Of course, we all are familiar with protection methods against dehydration and sunburn. Drink plenty of water (about 2-4 glasses of water per hour when working in the heat) to prevent dehydration and cover skin with clothing or sunblock to prevent burning.

Nicotine intoxication can be prevented through a number of methods. Simply wearing gloves to lessen the amount of nicotine absorbed through the skin. Changing work clothes immediately after work and washing work clothes before wearing them again also help to reduce the amount of nicotine absorbed. Taking a cool shower also help to reduce absorption.

Tobacco Worker's Lung can be prevented by properly drying and storing tobacco to prevent tobacco molds from growing. (Below is pictured a drying rack in my village.)

Here's to hoping that in the future my village will find another my village will find other income sources in the future, but for now, I feel good knowing that they now know how to protect themselves and their families.