Assessment of nicotine dermal contact and urinary cotinine of tobacco processing workers.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the dermal contact of nicotine dust, subjective symptoms and urinary cotinine of post curing tobacco workers.


METHODS
Dermal hand wipes of residual nicotine dust samples, morning urine samples and subjective symptoms were collected from 30 workers. The hand-wipe samples and urine samples were analyzed for nicotine and cotinine by a GC/MS, respectively.


RESULTS
The average amount of nicotine on the hands of workers was 0.24 microgram/cm2, while the average urinary cotinine concentration of workers was 3.08 microgram/ml. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between nicotine residue on hands and urinary cotinine excretion at r = 0.978, p < 0.05. There was also a significant relationship between the occupational related nicotine residue on hands and the number of subjective symptoms reported (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The nicotine residue on hands could be used as an indicator of occupational nicotine dust exposure which might affect the health of tobacco workers.
Kongtip
Pornpimol
P
Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Centre for Environmental Health, Toxicology and Management of Chemicals (ETM), Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. phpkt@mahidol.ac.th
Trikunakornwong
Amornchai
A
Chantanakul
Suttinun
S
Yoosook
Witaya
W
Loosereewanich
Preecha
P
Rojanavipart
Piangchan
P
D000328:Adult; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D016272:Occupational Health; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000633:toxicity*
D004391:Dust; D009538:Nicotine; D003367:Cotinine