smoking and occupational risks/ socio-economic class

[Guest guest]

Here's an interesting observation:

I work at a concrete plant. I have not met a *single* person who works there

and does not use tobacco, even though the rate in the general population is

something around 20-25%. I've met two people who only chew, and one who smokes

and chews, and most smoke.

Concrete is nasty stuff. Wet concrete on the skin will sometimes burn right

through layers of skin and cause open wounds (not quickly, but if on the skin

for a duration of time.) The air is thick with dust from dried concrete, and

when we sweep the floors or tighten bolts with the air gun the exposure is

much greater. I work a 10-hour day, and people in other departments work

longer.

According to one of my co-workers, concrete dust causes black lung. Given

what it does to the skin (it has some nasty chemicals in it), I can only

imagine inhaling the dust every day for 10 hours is no good for the lungs. It

irritates my eyes, nose, and throat, and lungs.

I think part of the reason people smoke there is because of a class

difference. They're working class folks, most of them not college-educated

(except the

office guys), etc. Also, I think working 50-60 hrs a week tends to drive

people to smoke! (And drink too. My boss said when he was out for a few months

with an injury he drank a 12 pack a week, now that he's back it's more like a

12-pack a day.)

Anyway, 100% smoker rate or near it is a very dramatic difference from 20 or

25% smoker rate. I believe that cigarette-smoking correlates with lower

economic class.

One more factor to consider in the statistics. I see a whole lot of junk

food get eaten for lunch, too.

Chris