OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH - SAFETY IN TOBACCO PLANTING AND PROCESSING BUSINESS *
I-GENERAL PROFILE
Tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum) is a commercial herb that carries a substance called nicotine in its leaves. Although cotton is the most grown crop in terms of the area where it is cultivated, tobacco is the most harvested agricultural crop that is not used for food purposes. It is grown on all continents and in nearly 100 countries. 80% of tobacco harvested in the world is used to produce cigarettes. The world's annual cigarette consumption is 5.6 trillion pieces. In other words, there are approximately 100 cigarettes per person per year. A significant portion of the world's population consumes cigarettes. China, the USA, Brazil and India are the world's top tobacco growing countries. Turkey, countries such as Greece and Italy each tobacco harvest is about half the US alone.
Tobacco was first transported to Europe with the discovery of the American continent. This delightful plant, which Indian natives used as incense in their rituals and inhaled by smoking on corn cobs, soon created addiction among European invaders. The Spaniards later used the region of Mexico for tobacco cultivation and employed slaves brought from Africa to work in agricultural land. 'Tobacco', which is the English equivalent of tobacco, comes from the word tabaco. Tabaco is the Cuban name for the cane, which resembles a fork, used to smoke tobacco.
Tobacco leaves; It is rich in alkaloids, starch, resin and tannins. Nicotine, known to be enjoyable and addictive, is also a fragrant alkaloid. After going through various chemical processes, it can be used against parasites. Tobacco leaf is fermented and powdered, and snuff, an addictive substance that is sniffed into the nose by scenting, is obtained. Tobacco seeds are also rich in oil and are used in the paint industry.
Tobacco has a value directly proportional to the quality of its leaves. Although the drying method and the chemicals applied are important in determining the value of tobacco, the most important determinant of quality is the climate. Many different types of tobacco are produced around the world.
II- HAZARDS, ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES IN TOBACCO PRODUCTION
In many parts of the world, tobacco is obtained by different methods in the process from its cultivation to harvesting and processing. Productivity is very high in agricultural areas where mechanization is intense. However, tobacco, which is cultivated in the most underdeveloped and developing countries of the world, is produced mostly based on labor. Many musculoskeletal diseases are observed due to the sowing of seeds, harvesting of the crop, separating the collected leaves according to their quality, bending and lifting during the lifting and transportation of tobacco bales and carrying heavy loads. Waist and back pain, head and neck pain are common complaints.
Knives used while processing tobacco are dangerous and the cuts can turn into open wounds, causing tetanus * disease.
The increase in mechanization eliminates some of the dangers mentioned above, but causes new ones. Different dangers are encountered in areas where machines are used excessively. Crashes, falls, and hands, fingers or arms can be caught in the machines.
Pesticides (drugs against plants), insecticides (drugs against pests) and fungicides (drugs against fungi) are very dangerous chemicals. Fertilizers, pesticides and strong weed killers used in large quantities in production cause some dangers. Respiratory protective equipment should be used especially while spraying or walking around these areas where there are other respiratory risks. In addition, contact of these chemicals on the skin causes burns and diseases such as contact dermatitis *.
An extremely dangerous pesticide called Aldikarb is often used. This powerful chemical causes genetic disorders and nervous system disorders that are difficult to repair. Nausea, twitching muscles and writhing are the most important symptoms of poisoning. The vapors of the chemical called dichloropropene are; It causes skin flushing, tearing and respiratory distress.
When the time comes to collect, farmers carry the produce to their homes, as there are no large warehouses to dry the tobacco leaves. This is particularly dangerous for children and women, as tobacco emits an odor that causes suffocation and shortness of breath.
One of the most common diseases in children and adults is Green Tobacco Disease (YTH). YTH occurs in workers and farmers who use their bare hands while collecting or / and drying tobacco leaves. Green tobacco leaves, which are collected for drying, which are usually loose, are compacted in the hands and armpits. Often times green tobacco leaves are wet and nicotine enters the body through the skin.
YTH occurs within an average of 10 hours as a result of skin contact with nicotine. The first symptoms are headache and nausea. Vomiting, weakness, dizziness, nausea, rapid breathing, changes in pulse and blood pressure, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and increased salivation are other findings observed in patients.
Among those who become ill, of those who need medical assistance are hospitalized. The disease lasts for an average of 2.4 days. In mild cases, work should be interrupted, plenty of fluids should be taken, rest and body should be cleansed by taking a bath. In severe cases, serum, H1 blockers (dramamine) and ant-emetic (anti-vomiting) drugs are given in hospitals.
Treatment of this disease can also be quite costly. Average outpatient costs are approximately 250 USD in the USA, inpatient costs are on average 566 USD and intensive care costs are 2.046 USD.
Another important finding is that 32% of those who get the disease are between the ages of 14-19. This shows that young farmers are at higher risk of contracting this disease.
Contact dermatitis is a reaction that occurs as a result of skin contact with certain substances. 80% of these reactions are reactions due to irritation (such as the hand caused by dishwashing), and 20% are allergic reactions. The reaction does not occur immediately after contact. Symptoms occurring 1-3 days after contact usually disappear after 1 week or later. The skin becomes red, itchy, inflamed, and blistered. The reaction is usually most intense at the contact site; It can also occur in other parts of the skin.
Tetanus microbe is a heat-resistant microbe that can generally live in soil, moist environment, home-operating room dust, salt water, especially in fertilizer and in an oxygen-free environment. The Tetanus microbe, which can easily enter the body even through very small wounds and cuts, causes damage to the spinal cord and nervous system with the "Tetanus poison" called Tetanospasmin and still causes the death of 6 out of 10 patients despite all the advanced treatment possibilities.