Case – Control study of Haemoglobin Content, Total Erythrocyte count, Total Leucocyte count and Total Platelet Count in Tobacco Factory Workers

Background: In humans, tobacco is a risk factor for several diseases including malignancy, usually affecting the GIT and Lungs. In 2008, World Health Organization named tobacco as the world's single greatest explanation for preventable death. Workers within this industry are subjected to environmental hazards of exposure to tobacco leaf dust, pesticide residues and post-harvesting procedures. Workers have respiratory impairments as they are chronically and predominantly exposed to tobacco dust inhaled during tobacco processing. The primary objectives of this study was to study the blood parameters of Tobacco Factory workers and to match it with age matched controls to determine whether occupational exposure to raw tobacco causes any affect on Haematological parameters. This study was done at a Tobacco factory in Jaysingpur, Maharashtra on 114 workers of age 20-55 years, with history of exposure to tobacco dust who were exposed to tobacco for a period of more than one year were included in the study. Controls were selected from the office workers within the factory areas not exposed to the tobacco dust at the factory. A well informed written consent was taken from every subject. Screening of subject was done by a well-structured questionnaire. The data was collected and statistically analyzed. We found statistically significant decrease in haemoglobin concentration and total RBC count in tobacco workers as compared to controls. The total leucocyte count and platelet count was also raised in tobacco workers as compared to controls but was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Prolonged exposure to tobacco dust leads to anemia in tobacco factory workers. Moreover it may also have an impact on their immune system and platelet counts.