High Cigarette and Poly-Tobacco Use Among Workers in a Dusty Industry: New Jersey Quarry Workers

Cumulative disadvantage as a framework for understanding rural tobacco use disparities

Traditional tobacco product (cigarettes and smokeless tobacco) and polytobacco use rates are significantly higher among rural adolescents and adults compared to their nonrural counterparts. Such disparities are due to several factors that promote tobacco use initiation and continuation, including individual-level psychopharmacological factors and structural-level factors such as fewer tobacco control efforts (e.g., fewer smoke-free policies and lower tobacco excise taxes), targeted tobacco marketing, less access to health-relevant resources, and more positive cultural norms surrounding tobacco use in rural communities. In this review, we use cumulative disadvantage theory as a framework for understanding how psychopharmacological and structural-level factors serve as drivers of tobacco use in rural areas. We start by describing how structural-level differences between rural-nonrural communities impact psychopharmacological influences and, when available, how these factors influence tobacco use. We conclude by discussing the interplay between factors, providing suggestions for ways to assess our application of cumulative disadvantage theory empirically and making recommendations for research and policy implementation in rural areas. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Respiratory health and silicosis in artisanal mine workers in southern Brazil

BACKGROUND

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) are an important source of employment in southern Brazil. Mining workers are frequently exposed to unhealthy work conditions which increase the risk of occupational diseases. In this study, we assessed the association of sociodemographic factors and the occupational history of artisanal mining workers with the risk of adverse respiratory outcomes.

METHODS

The study was conducted with 258 artisanal mining workers in southern Brazil, who were exposed to dust (mainly crystalline silica) in their work. Information on sociodemographic variables and occupational histories was collected between 2017 and 2018. To estimate the worker's exposure to inhalable dust we use the Advanced REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals) Tool (ART).

RESULTS

Study participants were all men, with an average age of 40 years. Median crude dust exposure estimated by ART was 13.2 mg/m³ and median crude crystalline silica exposure was 1.6 mg/m³ . The prevalence ratio (PR) for self-reported silicosis was 3.08 (95% confidence interval, 1.39-7.17) in workers with 20 years or more of mining work. Factors associated with silicosis were age, pack-years of tobacco use, and body mass index. Smokers were over twice as likely to report respiratory symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that a high prevalence of silicosis and other associated diseases in mining workers is associated with both unhealthy work environment conditions and the health profile of workers. This study is an important step for understanding health outcomes from work in ASM.

Predictors of health-related quality of life among semi-precious stone mineworkers exposed to silica dust

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to comparatively evaluate HRQOL in miners of semi-precious stones with and without silicosis, and determine the associated factors, as well as the performance of two different questionnaires in measuring HRQOL.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study of 348 male miners (129 with silicosis) who underwent an interview and spirometry, HRQOL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).

RESULTS

Miners with silicosis were older, had less schooling, worked more hours daily, and had longer exposure to silica. They also had worse scores of QoL in both questionnaires. Respiratory symptoms and %FEV₁ were contributing factors for the models of total health and all the domains of the SGRQ, and 40% of the variability of the general health domain of WHOQOL-BREF was due to dyspnea, wheezing, %FEV₁, and pack-years of cigarette smoking. Respiratory symptoms, lung function, pack-years of cigarette smoking, years of education, and average monthly income were contributing factors for the models of the different domains of the WHOQOL-BREF.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed impaired HRQOL in semi-precious stone miners evaluated using both questionnaire tools of SGRQ and WHOQOL-BREF, of which SGRQ had superior performance. Respiratory symptoms, functional impairment, and pack-years of cigarette smoking were the most important determinants of the workers' general HRQOL.

Prevalence of cigarette smoking and its related factors among Iranian male workers

Background: Smoking is considered as the second leading risk factor of early death and disability throughout the world. Smoking is the second leading risk factor of early death and disability in the world. The workplace is an important setting for the implementation of cigarette smoking prevention and control interventions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking and related factors by focusing on ADHD and risk-taking behaviors among a sample of Iranian workers.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2434 male workers of Kaveh Industrial City in Saveh. Random cluster sampling was used in the selection of workers. All workers completed five sets of anonymous and validated questionnaires. ADHD was measured by Conner’s Adult ADHD Rating Scales. Data analysis was done using chi-square, independent t-test and logistic regression model in STATA 10. Also, P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of the workers was 32.80±7.05 years. The prevalence of cigarette smoking in the lifetime, last year, last month, and daily or almost daily in the last month were 26.2%, 20.6% , 18.5%, and 13.1% respectively. After adjustment, age (OR=1.08), sensation seeking (OR=1.57), hookah smoking (OR=4.21), alcohol use (OR=2.51), sexual risk behaviors (OR=2.25), religiosity (OR=0.95) and self-esteem (OR=2.02) were associated with cigarette smoking.

Conclusion: Our results showed that 13.1 % of workers were regular smokers (daily or almost daily). Specific programs in workplaces, including interventions to enhance self-steam and reduce anxiety, can be effective in lowering cigarette smoking prevalence. Also, comprehensive interventions to reduce or prevent different risk-taking behaviors can be considered as elements of preventive action plans.

Tobacco product use among workers in the construction industry, United States, 2014-2016

BACKGROUND

Although cigarette smoking has declined among U.S. workers, smoking remains high among construction workers. This study assessed tobacco product use among U.S. construction workers.

METHODS

The 2014-2016 National Health Interview Survey data for U.S. working adults were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 10.2 (6.3% of working adults) million construction workers, 35.1% used any tobacco product; 24.4% were cigarette smokers, 8.3% were cigar, cigarillo, pipe or hookah smokers, 7.8% were smokeless tobacco users, 4.4% were e-cigarette users, and 7.6% used ≥2 tobacco product users. Tobacco use varied by worker characteristics, with highest tobacco use (>35%) among those reporting ≤5 years on the job, temporary work status, job insecurity, or an unsafe workplace. Construction workers had higher odds of tobacco product use than non-construction workers.

CONCLUSIONS

Over one-third of U.S. construction workers use tobacco products and disparities exist across sub-groups. Workplace tobacco control strategies could reduce tobacco use among this population.