Green Tobacco Sickness

In 1993, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) issued a warning that tobacco harvesters may be prone to a condition called Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS), a condition caused by skin contact with wet tobacco leaves during harvesting. The communication included symptoms and how to prevent GTS. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control also has issued information about GTS to tobacco harvesters. 

Philip Morris USA and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company work with tobacco growers to provide them with information and guidance on good agricultural practices. Their Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) program communications have helped educate contracted growers about growing and harvesting tobacco safely, in compliance with all laws and regulations, and in a way that minimizes the environmental impact of tobacco production. With respect to GTS, PM USA and USSTC have taken further steps to better educate and inform domestic growers by:

• working with universities to develop training and information regarding GTS
• distributing GTS materials to tobacco growers
• updating the GAP handbook ─ which is distributed annually to all contracted domestic growers ─ to include in 2010 specific protocols on GTS
• communicating about GTS protocols through grower newsletters, surveys, brochures and meetings with individual growers and grower councils
• requiring in our tobacco companies' contracts beginning with the 2010 crop year that growers implement specific GTS protocols included in our GAP handbook
• implementing procedures to assess their adherence to these protocols

For tobacco produced by growers overseas, PM USA and John Middleton work with third-party suppliers to promote and maintain good agricultural practices among growers, including GTS protocols where applicable.

Related Information

• NIOSH Issues Warning to Tobacco Harvesters
• Learning about Green Tobacco Sickness: Juan's Experience