Green tobacco sickness

[drinkthekoolaid]

As a noob I never thought about this, cool little read.

Green tobacco sickness

Jeffrey S McBride, David G Altman, Melissa Klein, Wain White

OBJECTIVE To describe the health impact of harvesting tobacco and to suggest prevention and risk reduction strategies to avoid contracting green tobacco sickness (GTS).

Link to article

 

[deluxestogie]

That issue has been discussed in various conversations on the forum. Here's the risk:

If you go out with bare arms (and possibly bare legs) into a field of closely planted, mature tobacco in the morning, while there is still extensive dew on the leaf, then proceed to reach into the plants for several hours, in order to prime leaves or stalk-harvest, then your exposed skin may absorb enough nicotine to cause you to feel queasy.

1. Most home growers don't grow enough plants for that to become an issue.
2. To avoid spoilage in the shed, tobacco leaf should not be wet when harvested.
3. Only minimal nicotine is absorbed through the skin on the palm of your hands.
4. Freshly rained-on leaf is not a problem. Rain tends to wash away the surface nicotine exuded by the leaf trichomes.
5. Dew has usually rested on the leaf long enough to hold noticeable nicotine.
6. Symptoms of green tobacco sickness are usually only evident in non-users of tobacco, who are more sensitive to nicotine.

Bob

 

[drinkthekoolaid]

Great break down, thanks Bob.