SMOKING-HABITS AND OCCUPATIONAL-STATUS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (8) , 537-542
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the associations between occupational status and detailed measures of smoking exposure: ever vs. never smoking, type of tobacco used, current vs. ex-cigarette smoking, amount smoked, age began and tar yield of the usual brand smoked. Data were obtained between 1977-1979 as part of a large-scale epidemiological study of tobacco use. Subjects interviewed were 2528 white males aged 41-70 yr while they were patients in hospitals located in 5 USA cities. Sample (38%) had cancer of a site not previously linked with use of tobacco and 62% had non-cancer conditions also unrelated to tobacco exposure. Men in professional and technical occupations showed a markedly higher rate of never smoking than did men from all other occupations who showed only slight differences among themselves. The intensity of other cigarette smoking variables, current vs. ex-smoking, age began and tar yield of cigarette smoked (but not number/day), varied significantly by occupational level, with higher levels of smoking intensity observed among men in blue-collar occupations. An appropriate evaluation of an occupationally related disease also affected by smoking must include detailed and comprehensive smoking data. Men in occupations associated with higher indices of smoking intensity would have higher rates of tobacco-related diseases.

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