Association between occupational history of exposure to tobacco dust and risk of carcinoma cervix: A case-control study

Occupational exposures among women beedi workers in Mysore District, India: A mixed-methods study protocol

Beedi is the most common smoking form of tobacco used in India. The rolling of beedis is performed primarily by women in settings that lack occupational safeguards. The aims of this protocol are to establish methods for the study of occupational exposures among women beedi workers and their experiences and challenges working with unburnt tobacco. This protocol employs a convergent parallel mixed-methods approach. Qualitatively, we plan to explore the experiences and challenges faced by women beedi workers using photovoice, a community based participatory method. Occupational exposures to pesticides will be assessed through the use of silicone wristbands worn for seven days by workers, and exposure to toxic metals and metalloids will be assessed in dust samples collected in the homes of workers. The outcomes will be analyzed to form policy recommendations to improve the occupational health of women beedi workers.

Occupational health hazards of bidi workers and their families in India: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Bidi workers and their families are exposed to harmful substances during bidi rolling, thereby jeopardising their health. We aimed to assess existing evidence on health conditions of bidi workers and their families in India.

METHODS

We searched nine databases and relevant websites, and conducted citation screening to identify primary studies assessing occupational health hazards of bidi workers and their families. Two authors independently conducted screening and data extraction. We synthesised the findings narratively in a structured fashion.

RESULTS

We found 3842 studies, out of which 95 studies met our eligibility criteria. High prevalence of disease conditions across all organ systems of the body was reported in bidi workers. Studies on female bidi workers showed decreased fertility (n=2), increased frequency of miscarriages (n=1) and higher risk of cervical cancer (n=1). Pregnant bidi workers were at an increased risk of anaemia and pregnancy-induced hypertension (n=2), higher frequency of neonatal deaths (n=1), stillbirths (n=1) and premature births (n=1) in comparison with non-bidi workers. Babies born to bidi workers reported low birth weight (n=5). Evidence from cohort studies suggests causal nature of the exposure to the disease condition.

CONCLUSION

Our review shows that bidi rolling leads to numerous occupational health hazards in bidi workers and their family members. It is essential to provide alternative livelihoods, and safe and protective working environment, and cover bidi workers under various social security provisions to alleviate the deleterious effect of bidi making at home. It is also important to shift bidi making away from home and strengthen existing regulations and promulgation of new provisions, including India's Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code 2020.

Genotoxic effect induced by dried nicotiana tabacum leaves from tobacco barns (kiln-houses) in chinese hamster lung fibroblast cells (V79)

Nicotiana tabacum is the most cultivated tobacco species in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Workers who handle the plant are exposed to the leaf components during the harvesting process and when separating and classifying the dried leaves. In addition to nicotine, after the drying process, other components may be found including tobacco-specific nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as pesticides residues. The objective of this study was to examine the genotoxicity attributed to the aqueous extract of dried tobacco leaves obtained from tobacco barns using Chinese hamster lung fibroblast cells (V79) as a model system by employing alkaline comet assay, micronucleus (MN) and Ames test. MTT assay was used to assess cytotoxicity and establish concentrations for this study. Data demonstrated cell viability > 85% for concentrations of 0.625-5 mg/ml while the comet assay indicated a significant increase in DNA damage at all concentrations tested. A significant elevation of MN and nuclear buds (NBUD) was found for 5 mg/ml compared to control and other dry tobacco leaves concentrations (0.625-2.5 mg/ml). Mutagenicity was not found using the Salmonella/Microsome test (TA98, TA100, and TA102 strains) with and without metabolic activation. The concentration of inorganic elements was determined employing the PIXE technique, and 13 inorganic elements were detected. Using CG/MS nicotine amounts present were 1.56 mg/g dry tobacco leaf powder. Due to the observed genotoxicity in V79 cells, more investigations are needed to protect the health of tobacco workers exposed daily to this complex mixture of toxic substances present in dry tobacco leaves.

Comparative Evaluation of Salivary Sialic Acid Levels Among Beedi Rollers and Tobacco Users in Mangalore, South India

Introduction: According to World Health Organization, the global cancer burden is estimated to have risen to 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Tobacco use is a leading cause of cancer and of death from cancer. Beedis are the most popular smoking form of tobacco in India. Thirty-four percent of the tobacco produced in India is used for making beedis. The beedi sector is agroforestry-based and the second largest industry in India with approximately 4.4 million full-time beedi workers in India. Toxic constituents present in tobacco are released into the ambient air during the processing of beedis.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess and compare salivary sialic acid levels among beedi rollers, tobacco smokers, smokeless tobacco users and individuals with no tobacco exposure. The study sample comprised of 140 individuals who were 30 to 60 years old, who attended dental screening and treatment camps in rural and urban areas in Mangalore, conducted by the Department of Public Health Dentistry, Yenepoya Dental College and patients who visited the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology of Yenepoya Dental College. Saliva was collected by passive drool method into a sterile container. Biochemical analysis of salivary sialic acid was done using the acidic ninhydrin method. Continuous variables are expressed in terms of mean and standard deviation. Categorical variables are expressed in terms of frequencies and percentages. To compare salivary sialic acid levels between the groups ANOVA was used. The Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables between the groups.

Results: A total of 140 participants, 35 beedi rollers, 35 smokers, 35 smokeless tobacco users and 35 individuals with no tobacco exposure participated in the study. Among the 140 participants, 90 participants were males and 50 participants were females. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean salivary sialic acid level between the different groups (p<0.001) with smokeless tobacco users having the highest (10.60 mg/dL) mean salivary sialic acid level. It was found that the mean salivary sialic acid level reduced as the age progressed, even though there was no statistically significant difference. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean salivary sialic acid level between the different groups (p=0.010) with participants with 11 to 20 years of exposure to tobacco having the highest (8.67 mg/dL) mean salivary sialic acid level and participants with no tobacco exposure having least (3.06 mg/dL) mean salivary sialic acid level.

Conclusion: The salivary sialic acid level was more in beedi rollers than individuals with no tobacco exposure, even though the difference was not statistically significant. The results showed elevated levels of salivary sialic acid in smokeless tobacco users followed by tobacco smokers. This may be an indication that smokeless tobacco use has harmful effects similar to or more than tobacco smoking since salivary sialic acid levels in smokeless tobacco users were higher than those in smokers.

Cervical cancer related to occupational risk factors: review

Background

Occupational risk factors are associated with many types of neoplasms including cervical cancer.

Objective

To review the specialized literature for evidence on the relationship between cervical cancer and exposure to occupational hazards.

Methods

Literature search in electronic databases using keywords cervical cancer and occupational risk.

Results

Workers occupationally exposed to tobacco, fungi or bacteria, metalworking fluids and tetrachloroethylene used in dry cleaning and for metal degreasing exhibited higher susceptibility to cervical cancer.

Conclusion

Few studies sought to investigate relationships between cervical cancer and occupational hazards, which hinders the attempts at establishing a causal link.