Tobacco Documents Online

Smoking and the An inteniew with Donald Shopland, Smoking, Tobacco, and Cancer Ptogram, National Cancer Institute Blue-Collar Work Forcer Q: What distinguishes the blue-collar work force from the white-collar work force in terms of smoking behavior? A: The most complete review of occupational differences among smokers is provided by the Surgeon General's 1985 report on cancer and chronic lung disease in the workplace. It reported that blue-collar workers smoke more, tend to start smoking at an earlier age, and have more difficulty quitting than white-collar workers. Their risk of disease is compounded by tlte 6ct that they are tnore apt to be exposed to other disease-causing agents in their work environment than white-collar workers. Q: What other differences exist between smokers and nonsmokers? A: Smoking varies inveasely with education and income. College-educated white-collar workers and high-income earners are less likely to smoke than high school graduates. blue- collar workers, and those with low incomes. There are also differenct:s in smoking rates among racial an& ethnic groups. Proportionately more black men are smokers (40%) than white mea (31%), for example. while black women and white women have virtually the sametsmoking rates (38% versus 27%,, respectively). Q: Does the combination of smoking with exposure to hazardous substances at the workplace present a serious health risk to blue-collar workers? A: Such risks wett; clearly identified in the 1979 Surgeon General's report on smoking. which suggested that cigarette smoke could transform existing chemicals into more harmful ones: increase exposure oo existing toxic chemicals; add to the biological effects caused by certain chemicals; and interact synergistically with existing chemicals. The conclusion of the 1985 Su ,eon General's report is very clear and specific: Workets who smoke and are exposed to bazardous substances have a greater risk of d'tsease than if they face only one of the hazards. The most frequently cited example in the report is that of lung cancer and asbestos workers. In one study, nottsmoking, heavily exposed asbestos workers had a fivefold: increased risk of developing lung cancer than nonsmokers not exposed to asbestos. Smokers not exposed to asbestos have a 10-times greater• risk of cancer than nonsmokers not exposed. The risk is increased morc than ftft.vfold if the asbestos wnnEer also smokes and nearly rtinetyfvld if that worker smokes more than a pack daiht t~.. i '•••11 1 yll~~~11~ Smoking Policy: Questions and Answers Q: What is meant by synergy between toxic materials? A: It is the effect just described: when the ootal risk is greater than the sum of the risks of independent exposures. It means. in the case of heavilv exposed. smoking asbestos workers. that the risk of developing lung cancer is SAl)0 percent greater than among workers who neither smoke nor are exposed' to asbestos. Q: Which is more harmful to a worker. exposure to hazardous agents or smoking? A: According to the Surgeon General! "For the majority of American workers who smoke. cigarette smoking represents a greater cause of death and disability than their workplace environment." Because of the combined effects of smoking and occupational exposures to harmful agents, the total risk increases for the worker. Q: Does this mean that employers can ignore current health and safety efforts if they No. 10 in a series implement nonsmoking policies? A: Not at all. The intent of the 1985 Surgeon GtneralTs report was to stress the dramatic role smoking plays in employee health and to encoura°e workers. unions. and' amolovers to