Acute and chronic health effects due to green tobacco exposure in agricultural workers.

BACKGROUND: An epidemiological study was undertaken in Gujarat, India to study the acute and chronic health effects of occupational exposure to green tobacco. METHODS: Non-Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco is the main crop in many districts of Central Gujarat. Three villages were selected from Anand district for the study and a random sample of 685 exposed workers were examined. Six hundred and fifty-five control workers with the same socio-economic status were examined from two villages where tobacco was not cultivated. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of green tobacco sickness (GTS) was 47.0% among tobacco workers. The prevalence in women workers was 55.7% while in men workers it was 42.66%. To detect the chronic health effects prevalence of hypertension, electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, and eye problems in all the workers and reproductive abnormalities in women workers, all subjects received a medical examination. The data were compared in exposed and control group but they were non-significant statistically. No case of tobacco amblyopia was detected. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of GTS among non-FCV tobacco workers is high. However, from viewpoint of severity it can be considered as mild acute nicotine toxicity, which is relieved without medication. No significant difference is observed as regards to chronic health effects among tobacco workers and control workers.

Determination of nicotine and cotinine in tobacco harvesters' urine by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography.

A solid-phase extraction method using Drug Test-1 column containing chemically modified silica as a solid support for sample clean up and reversed phase ion-paired high-pressure liquid chromatography method have been developed for the simultaneous determination of nicotine and its metabolite cotinine from the urine samples. Mobile phase was consisted of acetate buffer (containing 0.03 M sodium acetate and 0.1 M acetic acid) pH 3.1 and acetonitrile (78:22% (v/v)) containing 0.02 M sodium octanosulfonate as an ion pair agent. pH of the mobile phase was adjusted to 3.6 with triethylamine for better resolution and to prevent peak tailing. The linearity was obtained in the range of 0.5-10 microg/ml concentrations of nicotine and cotinine standards. The correlation coefficients were 0.998 for cotinine and 0.999 for nicotine. The recoveries were obtained in the range of 79-97% with average value of 85% for nicotine and in the range of 82-98% with average value of 88% for cotinine. The limit of detection was 2 ng/ml for cotinine and 5 ng/ml for nicotine with 2 ml urine for extraction, calculated by taking signal to noise ratio 10:3. The intra-day co-efficient of variation (CV) were <4 and 7% and inter-day CV were <9 and 7% for nicotine and cotinine, respectively. The method was applied to the urine samples of tobacco harvesters, who suffer from green tobacco sickness (GTS) to check the absorption of nicotine through dermal route during the various processes of tobacco cultivation due to its good reproducibility and sensitivity.

A comparative, qualitative and quantitative antimicrobial efficacies of mouthrinses containing chlorhexidine gluconate and essential oils.

A project was launched to evaluate and compare antimicrobial efficacy of Hexidine and Listerine over placebo in 10 day human experimental gingivitis study. A rigid study schedule for subject compliance spanning well over 3 months was sorted out and volunteers recruited for study rinsed all the 3 assigned mouthrinses containing (a) chlorhexidine gluconate, (b) "essential oils" and (c) flavoured distilled water one after the other at certain prefixed intervals. After 10 days of assigned mouthrinse regimen, where the assigned mouthrinse was the only method practiced by the volunteers for oral hygiene, Supragingival Plaque was quantitatively and qualitatively assayed. Qualitatively supragingival plaque was assayed by Gram staining (Direct smear and Thioglycollate Broth) and growth characteristics i.e; Aerobic, Microaerophilic and Anaerobic growth was noted. Quantitatively plaque was assayed by calculating total microbial load per tooth by preparing Mafarland Nephelometer standard and Spectrophotometric analysis. It is concluded that Hexidine and Listerine exert similar antimicrobial efficacy in 10 days experimental gingivitis study. Hexidine and Listerine exert their antimicrobial influence through reduction of total Aerobes and Anaerobes reducing total microbial load per tooth by 58% and 53% respectively as compared to placebo.

Intervention studies against "green symptoms" among Indian tobacco harvesters.

The use of rubber gloves reduced nicotine and cotinine absorption among 29 tobacco harvesters, as evidenced by the urinary excretion rate of nicotine and cotinine. Approximately 20% (n = 6) of the subjects reported that symptoms disappeared when they used gloves, but the remaining 23 workers complained of an occasional headache even when using gloves. Wearing of boots and socks as well as gloves prevented the symptoms and significantly decreased nicotine and cotinine excretion. This suggests that nicotine is absorbed through the feet.

Isolation and identification of gram negative bacteria from raw baled cotton and synthetic textile fibers with special reference to environmental GNB and endotoxin concentrations of textile mill.

The objective of this study was to examine the gram-negative bacterial (GNB) content of Indian raw baled cotton fibers and to compare with the U.S. cottons. Airborne endotoxin also was estimated in the different work places of the mill. On comparison with data on U.S. cottons, GNB content was found to be as high as in U.S. cottons. Moreover, endotoxin concentration of cardroom dust from an Indian cotton mill was found to be significantly (P less than 0.01) higher than in the research laboratory of the same cotton mill as well as in the cardroom of a synthetic mill.

Protection against "green symptoms" from tobacco in Indian harvesters: a preliminary intervention study.

Two types of gloves were provided to 85 non-Virginia tobacco harvesters who complained of having "green symptoms." Results show that the use of gloves causes a significant reduction in nicotine absorption as reflected by the nicotine and cotinine excretion rates and also the reduction in the prevalence of "green symptoms," since contact with the leaves and leaf-sap and the abrasions of the palms was avoided by their use. It was found that the use of rubber gloves afforded protection among 93% of the subjects, while with cotton gloves the proportion was somewhat less (78.5%). Cotton gloves were more comfortable but nondurable while the rubber ones were durable but not so comfortable.

Occupational health problems among workers handling Virginia tobacco.

The prevalence of "green symptoms" among 289 tobacco workers handling Virginia tobacco leaves was investigated. The frequency of these symptoms was high (53.29%). Urinary excretion rate of nicotine and cotinine increased significantly only among the subjects suffering from "green symptoms".

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.

Thin-layer chromatographic method for estimation of gamma-aminobutyric acid from brain.

The present method describes the estimation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from adult rat brain by thin layer chromatography (TLC). The major advantage of this TLC method is the sensitivity and repidity of estimation. About 93 to 98 percent recovery is possible by this procedure and this shows linearity up to 9 micrograms. Replicate analysis of GABA by this method shows a co-efficient variation of 1.31%

Studies on occupational health problems during agricultural operation of Indian tobacco workers: a preliminary survey report.

Occupational sickness among tobacco farmers due to the handling of green tobacco leaves is termed "green symptom." This symptom was investigated among 197 Indian tobacco workers and it was found that 88.83% of the workers were suffering from green symptom when exposed to green tobacco leaves during their occupational operation. Nicotine concentration of the urine was estimated only among male subjects who were smokers. During the exposure period (when subjects were suffering from green symptom), more than a three-fold increase in nicotine concentration in the urine was observed. Both cured and uncured leaves may cause such sickness.