Journal of Rural Health
Volume 18, Issue 4, 2002, Pages 503-511

Hispanic farmworker interpretations of green tobacco sickness (Article)

Rao P.* , Quandt S.A. , Arcury T.A.
  • a Department of Community Medicine, Wake Forest Univ. School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
  • b Department of Community Medicine, Wake Forest Univ. School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States
  • c Department of Community Medicine, Wake Forest Univ. School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States

Abstract

This paper describes the explanatory model of green tobacco sickness (GTS) held by migrant and seasonal farmworkers in North Carolina and compares it with a research-based biobehavioral model. GTS is a form of acute nicotine poisoning that affects individuals who work in wet tobacco fields. It is characterized by nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness. There are no standard diagnostic criteria for GTS; clinicians must diagnose it based on a combination of symptoms and exposure risk. GTS resembles pesticide poisoning, but treatment is quite different. Many farmworkers in tobacco today are Spanish-speaking immigrants from Mexico with limited experience in tobacco work. In-depth interviews about GTS were conducted with 23 Hispanic farmworkers in central North Carolina to explore their understanding of the problem. Workers generally attributed the symptoms to other aspects of working in tobacco, such as pesticides or heat, rather than nicotine. They cited many of the same risk factors identified in the biobehavioral model, such as wet work conditions and inexperience with tobacco work. Prevention and treatment include a combination of exposure avoidance and common medications. The symptoms of most importance to farmworkers were insomnia and anorexia, both of which impaired the ability to work. This jeopardized their income, as well as their work security. If health care providers understand the explanatory model held by farmworkers, they will be more effective at diagnosing and treating GTS and be better prepared to teach patients how to prevent future episodes.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

heat health care personnel agricultural worker occupational disease human clinical feature middle aged North Carolina tobacco industry ethnic group intoxication controlled study nicotine Mexico milk United States insomnia migrant worker Humans income male Protective Clothing female tobacco occupational exposure risk factor Risk Factors pesticide clinical article Agricultural Workers' Diseases patient education Article adult bismuth salicylate Transients and Migrants sedative agent lemon dimenhydrinate green tobacco sickness antiemetic agent population model anorexia attitude to health analgesic agent paracetamol pathophysiology Mexican Americans

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0036745914&partnerID=40&md5=f248800f95f088855f1c818dc18bd0b6

ISSN: 0890765X
Cited by: 29
Original Language: English