Assessment of nicotine inhalation exposure and urinary cotinine of tobacco processing workers.
OBJECTIVE
To study the composition of tobacco dust, atmospheric nicotine concentration, urinary cotinine excretion and the subjective symptoms of workers in dry tobacco leaf preparation.


METHODS
The tobacco dust in air of the breathing zone of workers and the urine samples of these workers and a comparison group were collected and analyzed by GC/MS. The accuracy, precision and detection limit of the methods were determined.


RESULTS
The tobacco dust contained nicotine and atrazine (a herbicide). The average atmospheric nicotine was 0.105 mg/m3 and urinary cotinine concentrations of post tobacco curing process workers was 3.084 microgram/ml. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the atmospheric nicotine dust and urinary cotinine excretion (r = 0.987, p < 0.05). The health symptoms of headache, nausea, weakness, dizziness, and increased perspiration reported among workers had a significant relationship with the job characteristics of the post tobacco curing process workers, with a p-value < 0.05.


CONCLUSIONS
Nicotine dust contained a herbicide called atrazine. Nicotine concentrations were highest in the post tobacco curing process where workers reported a lot of adverse symptoms. Urinary cotinine can be used as a biomarker of tobacco dusts' exposure in dry tobacco leave preparation areas.
Narcotic Analysis and Technical Service Institute, Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Ministry ofJustice, Bangkok, Thailand.
Amornchai
A
Trikunakornwongs
Pornpimol
P
Kongtip
Suttinun
S
Chantanakul
Witaya
W
Yoosook
Preecha
P
Loosereewanich
Piangchan
P
Rojanavipart
D000328:Adult; D001280:Atrazine / Q000633:toxicity; D015415:Biomarkers; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*
D015415:Biomarkers; D004391:Dust; D009538:Nicotine; D003367:Cotinine; D001280:Atrazine