Green tobacco sickness Education is key Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is a type of nicotine poisoning caused when nicotine is absorbed through the skin from wet tobacco leaves. It’s a real risk to farmers and their workers if they harvest tobacco when it’s wet. There are credible reports of GTS being experienced by tobacco workers. However, there is no credible evidence to indicate that GTS can have long-term effects and appropriate farming practices, including the use of protective clothing and avoiding contact with the tobacco plant when it is wet, can effectively manage the risk." Development Delivery International Reported symptoms of GTS include nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, abdominal cramps, excessive sweating, headache, and sometimes fluctuations in blood pressure or heart rate. These tend to be short-lived and vary in intensity and persistence according to each individual and degree of exposure. Similar symptoms can appear in cases of heat stress and also in the unlikely event of exposure to Crop Protection Agents, sometimes making it difficult for doctors to diagnose GTS. Although scientific research on the subject is limited and published evidence indicates the incidence to be low, we recognise GTS can be an occupational health risk for some tobacco workers who handle wet tobacco leaves. In 2011, we commissioned independent research by Development Delivery International into the impact of tobacco growing. This research comprised a literature review of over 300 published sources on the subject of tobacco farming and its social and environmental effects as well as field research in three contrasting tobacco growing countries. The role of tobacco growing in rural livelihoods - Development Delivery International (4,289 kb) Minimising the risk of GTS There are a number of steps we recommend tobacco workers take to reduce the risk of contracting GTS. These include: Avoiding handling wet tobacco by waiting for the rain (or dew) to dry from the leaf. Quickly changing out of wet clothes saturated with moisture originating from green tobacco leaves. Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to avoid direct skin contact with tobacco during harvesting. We recommend clothing such as gloves, trousers and shirts / aprons made from impermeable cloth, although in hot weather this can increase the risk of heat stress. The success of this measure largely depends on the farmers’ willingness to use PPE. Anyone who shows symptoms of GTS should stop handling the tobacco, rinse any skin that has been in direct or indirect contact with wet tobacco, change their clothes and seek medical advice. They should visit their healthcare providers for diagnosis and treatment. Current practice Our business is actively working to improve its understanding of GTS. We believe that education is key and that tobacco workers should be given practical guidance to better understand and avoid the risks of contracting the illness. Education programmes include information about risk factors, preventative measures, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. New programme drives industry-wide supplier standards Sustainable Tobacco Programme Creating shared value Our strategic approach to sustainability How we work From crop to consumer Human rights and Modern Slavery Act Sustainable agriculture and farmer livelihoods Sustainable Tobacco Programme Enhancing livelihoods Focused support for farming communities Green tobacco sickness Soil conservation and improvement Preserving natural forests Managing biodiversity Environmental and supply chain management Manufacturing Research and Development Marketing our products responsibly Working with retailers Search BATS: LSE GBp 4714.68 (-21.82) About us Sustainable business Our industry Challenges and opportunities How we work From crop to consumer Our products Putting consumers first Next Generation Products Capabilities, commitment, ambition Sustainability Investors Media Reporting Careers Contact us Worldwide Home How we work Sustainable agriculture and farmer livelihoods Focused support for farming communities Green tobacco sickness Explore our world We are one of the world’s most international businesses and many of our Group companies have their own websites. @BATPress BAT Press Office @BATPress Congratulations to @RAI_News for their @Achievers #Elite8 recognition. More in our news & features section:… twitter.com/i/web/status/9… 05 Oct Reply Retweet Favorite The Northbank @TheNorthbankBID Green fingered colleagues from everywhere on the Northbank area in full flow @BATPress pic.twitter.com/jPXJURT6vj 04 Oct Reply Retweet Favorite Investors Current UK share price 4714.68p -21.82p 05 Oct 2017 17:04 Our reporting Contact us +44 (0) 20 7845 1000 British American Tobacco p.l.c. Globe House 4 Temple Place London WC2R 2PG © British American Tobacco Accessibility Conditions of use Financial information Privacy policy Cookie policy Site map