Objective:

Tobacco use is high among US extraction and construction workers, who can also incur occupational dust exposure. Information on different types of tobacco use among quarry/mine workers is sparse.

Methods:

During mandated training sessions, New Jersey quarry workers were surveyed about their tobacco use. Prevalence was calculated for single and multiple tobacco use by demographic and workplace characteristics; logistic regression was used to assess associations with smoking.

Results:

Two hundred forty (97.1%) workers completed surveys. Among respondents, 41.7%[95% confidence interval (95% CI) 35.4 to 48.3] currently used any tobacco product of whom 28.1% smoked cigarettes. In multivariate analysis, positive associations with smoking included working as a contractor versus mine employee (odds ratio 2.32, 95% CI 1.01 to 5.36) and a usual job title of maintenance (odds ratio 2.02, 95% CI 0.87 to 4.94).

Conclusion:

Industry-specific information may be helpful in developing targeted tobacco-cessation programs.

Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States. 1 Although the overall prevalence of cigarette smoking has declined in the US, it remains higher among blue-collar workers. 2 Even among blue collar workers, smoking rates vary, with the highest prevalence reported among workers in the extraction and construction. 3 A study of workers based on nationally representative survey data reported that the prevalence of cigarette smoking was significantly higher among extraction and construction workers (33.1% and 34.9%, respectively), than other workers (23.8%). 4 Extraction and construction workers are also at an increased risk of mortality and morbidity from exposure to respirable mineral dust. 5, 6 Co-exposures to dust and cigarette smoke can have additive or synergistic potential for causing adverse respiratory health effects, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. 7–10 Occupational dust exposure and tobacco use are the primary modifiable risk factors for respiratory disease among these workers.