Respiratory disease and lung function in a tobacco industry

In a field study, 75 workers from a cheroot factory were compared with 50 reference workers from a large telephone company. Questionnaire responses revealed higher prevalences of cough and shortness of breath on exercise among the tobacco workers than controls. Cigarette smoking was the same in the two groups, but tobacco workers also smoked cheroots. Significantly decreased values (p less than .01) of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1.0) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were found among tobacco workers compared to referents. After adjusting for number of cigarettes and cheroots smoked, there remained no significant differences. There was a suggestion (p less than .10) of decreased FEV1.0 among light or nonsmoking tobacco workers. When cigarette consumption only was considered, this difference was significant (p less than .01). Lung function values were not associated with the very low measured dust exposures. Bronchial reactivity to inhaled histamine, diurnal and weekly changes in FEV1.0, skin-prick tests with tobacco extracts, and precipitating serum antibodies to tobacco extracts and extracts of microorganisms were similar to that expected in a nonexposed population. Differences in lung function between the two groups may result from excess cheroot consumption and higher previous exposure to tobacco dust among the tobacco workers.