Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and poly-tobacco among workers in three dusty industries

Background: Tobacco use remains high among blue-collar workers, the health consequences of which may be compounded by occupational dust exposure. Detailed data on tobacco use among workers in dusty industries are lacking. Methods: The 2006 to 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was used to compare current tobacco use prevalence [including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco (SLT), and both (dual use)] among male workers in three dusty industries to all other employed men using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Smoking rates were high among extraction (39.9%) and construction (38.5%) workers. Increased odds of SLT (odds ratio=3.3) and dual use (odds ratio=2.6) were observed among dustyindustry workers compared with other employed men. The prevalence of any tobacco use was unexpectedly high among extraction workers (60.4%). Conclusions: Disparities in tobacco use behaviors by industry may point to opportunities for targeted workplace tobacco cessation programs.