Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: January | Volume: 8 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 202-207
Impact of Air Pollution on the Lung Function of Traffic Policemen in Mangalore
Vipin Paul1, Don Gregory Mascarenhas2, Sayed Khilar3, Glenn Fernandes4
1Resident, Department of General Medicine, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, India 575004
2Associate Professor, Department of Respiratory Medicine, #505,Bethel,Inland Estoria, Bishop Victor Road, Mangalore 575002
3Professor, Department of General Medicine, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, India 575004
4Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, India 575004
Corresponding Author: Vipin Paul
ABSTRACT
Aims and objectives: Air pollution is one of the major concerns of the civilized world, which has a serious toxicological impact on human health and the environment. The traffic police personnel of crowded metropolitan cities, especially from a densely populated country such as India, who work in the traffic for hours together for many years are highly vulnerable to the respiratory morbidities. Present study was aimed at measurement of lung volumes and capacities in traffic police personnel who were posted at various traffic junctions in Mangalore city, so as to note whether prolonged exposure to vehicular exhausts had any detrimental effect on their lung functions.
Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 100 traffic policemen and 100 controls. Lung function parameters were measured using a portable spirometer. The spirometric parameters were compared in both groups by independent Student's ‘t’ test and the effect of duration of exposure was compared by ANOVA test. Statistical significance was indicated by P value < 0.05.
Results: The pulmonary function parameters of the exposed traffic policemen have significantly (p < 0.05) lower FVC (3.27±0.55), FEV1 (2.76±0.47) and PEFR (7.77±1.69) and higher FEV1/FVC (84.57±4.33) than the control groups with less exposure. There was no significant change with regard to FEF 25-75%(3.29±0.87).We found that as the years of experience increase the pulmonary function parameters such as FVC and FEV1 decrease significantly in traffic police personnel.
Conclusion: Computerized spirometry-based evaluation of pulmonary functions in traffic police personnel as compared to age-matched controls reveals overall decline in the lung function parameters in traffic police personnel.
Keywords: Air pollution, lung function, lung volume, lung capacity, traffic policemen.
[PDF Full Text]