Occupational health problems among tobacco processing workers: a preliminary study

Occupational health problems among 100 tobacco processing workers were investigated. Symptoms, including vomiting, giddiness, headache, etc. were found among 69 exposed subjects. It was also observed that the excretion rate of nicotine and cotinine increased among exposed subjects. Biochemical parameters were found to be within the normal range. Electrocardiographic findings were non-specific and clinically there was no evidence of hypertension or ischemic heart disease. Therefore, the symptoms in tobacco processing workers might possibly result from mild nicotine toxicity.