When nicotine from the tobacco plant is absorbed through the skin, a poisoning known as green tobacco disease can occur.
It is a poisoning that especially affects farm workers, due to its direct contact with tobacco leaves. In fact, the World Health Organization It is estimated that 10 out of every 1,000 farmworkers suffer from green tobacco disease.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of this poisoning usually include changes in blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, weakness and dizziness, skin irritation, abdominal cramps, headache, and difficulty breathing.
They usually appear after 3 to 17 hours of contact with the tobacco plant and can last up to 4 days.
Furthermore, this type of poisoning is more common when working with wet plants, because humidity causes more absorption through the skin.
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How to prevent green tobacco disease?
Some recommendations to avoid getting poisoned while working with tobacco plants are:
- Avoid direct contact with wet tobacco
- Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and gloves
- Change your clothes if they get wet
- Drink a lot of water
- At the first symptoms, hydrate, remove “contaminated” work clothes, and seek immediate medical attention.
Tobacco sickness in the United States is known as "green tobacco sickness" (GTS). If you or someone you know has been in contact with the tobacco plant and experiences any of these symptoms, contact your nearest healthcare provider immediately.
If you are located in North Carolina, You can find free or low-cost health clinics here.
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