title: Green tobacco sickness among tobacco farmers in southern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite being the second largest tobacco producer in the world, Brazil does not have prevalence studies about green tobacco sickness (GTS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of Brazilian tobacco workers. The sample was described according to socio-demographic, behavioral, and occupational variables. Gender-stratified multivariate analyses examined variables associated with GTS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GTS prevalence among men in the previous month was 6.6%, while among women it was 11.9%. Among men, age, being a non-smoker, hanging tobacco sticks in the barn, harvesting wet leaves, and exposure to physical exertion were risk factors for GTS. Among women, tying hands of tobacco, transporting bales, harvesting wet leaves, having had contact with pesticides, and exposure to physical exertion were positively associated with GTS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research is required to improve methods for GTS screening, as well as the ability to distinguish GTS from pesticide poisoning. Health professionals should be trained to diagnose and treat GTS.
authors: Social Medicine Department, Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil.
authors: Anaclaudia G
authors: AG
authors: Fassa
authors: Neice M X
authors: NM
authors: Faria
authors: Rodrigo D
authors: RD
authors: Meucci
authors: Nadia Spada
authors: NS
authors: Fiori
authors: Vanessa Iribarrem
authors: VI
authors: Miranda
authors: Luiz Augusto
authors: LA
authors: Facchini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009538:Nicotine / Q000506:poisoning*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010575:Pesticides; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D019460:Tobacco Industry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: epidemiology; green tobacco sickness; poisoning; prevalence; tobacco farming