It is well established that smoking tobacco is harmful to health as it can lead to a series of cardiovascular complications and multiple types of cancer. However, smoking is far from the only way tobacco can be harmful. Manual workers of tobacco production in Africa, as well as other parts of the world, suffer severe health issues from unsafe labor practices.
Nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco, can be absorbed through skin contact with tobacco plants. Workers often do not have adequate occupational supplies, such as protective gloves, for working in tobacco fields. By constantly handling tobacco plants with uncovered skin, many workers suffer from acute nicotine poisoning, also known as green tobacco sickness. This can lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, and altered heart rate.
Inadequate protective gear also fails to shield workers from inhaling fumes and being in contact with dangerous chemicals from pesticides. Those applying pesticides and those working in freshly applied fields are affected.
Like other sectors of agriculture, there is a large issue with the use of child labor in tobacco production. Children are also the most negatively impacted from nicotine, as less of the chemical is needed to impact their smaller bodies and they have a lesser built up tolerance.
Studies on the long term effects of continuous nicotine poisoning are very limited, however, studies on smoking indicate that nicotine exposure at young ages may affect brain development.
The use of child labor is prevalent, and it has vast impacts on state’s educational systems. A teacher from a rural region of Zimbabwe noted that his pupils may be absent up to 60-75% of a term due to work. The NGO Human Rights Watch conducted an investigation on this issue found that over half of interviewed tobacco farms in Zimbabwe reported that they employee people under the age of 18.
Human Rights Watch additionally collected the powerful quote “I hope that my children will go back to school, and become better people, because they can’t do that working in tobacco farming. Tobacco growing is a very difficult field. It makes one grow old before their time.”
While there are notable human right violations associated to this industry, tobacco is a major driver for multiple African economies. Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique are the largest tobacco producers in Africa. Respectively, these countries’ tobacco exports are valued at USD 550M, 417M, 384M, and 279M. For Malawi, raw tobacco makes up 59% of its total exports.
While the majority of tobacco produced in Africa is from small scale farmers, these farmers often have contracts with global tobacco companies such as British American Tobacco (BAT) and Phillip Morris International (PMI), both of which have buying offices in South Africa.
Countries must create larger and stronger labor inspecting bodies to diminish unsafe labor practices and the use of child labor.
Andy David
