Effects of Occupational Exposure to Tobacco Dust in Women Bidi Rollers

Tobacco contains nicotine which is readily absorbed by all the body tissue including the skin mucous membrane of epithelium respiratory disorders, nose and intestines. Processing of tobacco leaves generates lot of dust and liberates many volatile components of tobacco in the ambient air. In India the inspirable dust concentrations were 150 fold higher in tobacco processing units than in general environment. In the present study to assess the intensity of occupational toxication 182 women bidi rollers were clinically examined and interview for details using standard questionnaire. All the data was subjected to statistical analysis and chi-square test. More than 75% of women are engaged in bidi rolling. Simultaneously 182 control subjects were selected with age group 15-65 years. The women bidi rollers were employed for 6-30 years. They were had the sign and symptoms of tobacco dust exposure effects on chronic Bronchitis, eye irritations, headaches, backaches, as the significant increase in Joint pains. The studies showed women bidi rollers are at high health risk group combined action of local authorities society and international bodies may help tobacco related health problems.