Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS) is an illness caused by exposure of the skin/mouth/face to nicotine from the harvesting and cultivation of green tobacco plants. Nicotine is a toxic poison that is absorbed readily through the skin, especially when the tobacco plant is wet. The rapid dermal absorption of nicotine made it ideal as a pesticide, before it was banned as too toxic.

The symptoms of GTS including, weakness, headache, dizziness, nausea, palpitations and vomiting and affects tobacco workers as shown in the following table. GTS symptoms usually last 1 to 3 days.

Which is why the tobacco harvester shown in the above picture is covered in protective masks and gloves which have to be water resistant. For if your clothes get wet by brushing on the tobacco leaves, your wet shirts and pants will act like one giant nicotine patch, causing an nicotine overdose.

The recommended protective measures against GTS include:

Although many tobacco workers do not wear personal protective equipment while harvesting because it is so hot.

E-Liquids

GTS illustrates how nicotine can be rapidly absorbed causing illness. It is of particular importance when people are changing nicotine vape liquids that may be spilled on their skin. Vape liquids contain much higher nicotine concentrations than tobacco leaves. It is important that affected area should be washed as quickly as possible. And to clean up any spills on the floors or tables to prevent a pet or child from being poisoned.





Conclusion

Nicotine is a highly addictive neurotoxin that has been used in homicides for many years. The increasing popularity of vaping and widespread availability of high nicotine concentrated nicotine e-liquids have resulted in an increase of nicotine poisonings in children and its use in suicides.

References

Fasa, A.G., et al, "Urinary Cotinine in Tobacco Farmers in Southern Brazil", Revista de Saude Publia, 52: 70, 2018

Saleeon, T., et al, "Salivary Cotinine Levels as a Biomarker for Green Tobacco Sickness in Dry Tobacco Production Among Thai Traditional Tobacco Farmers, Pocz. Panstw. Zaki Hig., 67: 121-130, 2016

Satora, L., et al, "Green Tobacco Sickness in Poland", Polski Archiwum Medycyny Wewnetrzne J., 119: 184-185, 2009

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