Occupational hazards and health problems among traffic personnel of Mangaluru city

Background: Occupational health risks and hazards due to the polluted environment have become a serious public health concern. Thus, the duty-bound personnel like traffic police who are continuously exposed, may be at high risk and badly suffer from related health problems. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of occupational hazards and related health problems among traffic personnel in Mangaluru city. It also aimed to determine the association between occupational hazards and health problems. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among traffic personnel of Mangaluru city. A semi-structured questionnaire with established reliability and validity was used to measure occupational hazards, protective measures, and health problems. Results: The prevalence of respiratory morbidity, eye symptoms, and auditory symptoms was found to be 51.2%, 61.6%, and 47.5% respectively. Respiratory morbidity and duration of use of protective measures against air pollution are found to be significantly associated. The duration of exposure to noise pollution was also significantly associated with the auditory symptoms. Conclusions: Police personnel suffer from significant occupational health problems, due to hazards like air pollution and noise. Necessary protective measures should be taken to ensure the safety of traffic personnel. This study showed an association between occupational hazards and related health problems.

Evaluating the level of occupational stress and its influence factors among traffic police in a district in Shanghai / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective@#To investigate the high occupational stress and its influencing factors in traffic police in Shanghai.@*Methods@#728 traffic police were selected as the study subjects, and the《Occupational Health Questionnaire》was used to investigate and evaluate their job demand-control (JDC) and effort-reward imbalance model (ERI) occupational stress situation respectively. The related influencing factors were analyzed.@*Results@#The prevalence rates of high occupational stress in JDC and ERI models were 74.6% (543/728) and 51.5% (375/728) . The influencing factors of JDC were education, marriage, average weekly hours (χ2=16.82, 10.04, 18.71, P<0.05) , and The influencing factors of ERI were gender, age, marriage, real monthly income level, education, work experience, and average weekly hours (χ2=7.02, 26.18, 6.73, 50.42, 4.75, 26.61, 112.98, 6.19, P<0.05) . The JDC multivariate logistic analysis indicated that the risk of occupational stress of married police was 2.81 times as high as that of Unmarried ones. The risk of occupational stress of traffic police with more education was 1.92 times as high as that of low eduacation, average weekly working 41-50 hours and≥51 hours was 2.53, 3.12 times as high as that of ones with average working 40 hours, respectivly. Meanwhile, the ERI multivariate logistic analysis indicated that high income level is the protective factor of occupational stress. The traffic police with 15-<20 working years were more likely to occur higher occupational stress. The traffic police with the more average weekly hours had greater possibility of higher occupational stress.@*Conclusion@#The main influencing factors of JDC and ERI are marriage, real monthly income level, education, work experience, and average weekly hours.

Analysis of the prevalence and related risk factors of prostate diseases in traffic policemen / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective@#To investigate the prevalence and related risk factors of prostate diseases in traffic policemen.@*Methods@#A total of 848 traffic policemen who took part in the physical examination among August and September in 2016 were selected as research subjects, and a questionnaire survey was conducted to collect their information including smoking, alcohol drinking, biological and physiological indicators, as well as prostate disease etc. The relationship between the prevalence of prostate diseases and related risk factors was analyzed by Non-conditional Logistic Regression.@*Results@#The total prostate disease prevalence rate was 40.2% in the study subjects, and there is statistical significance (P<0.05) of differences between prostate disease group and non disease group in age, work age, smoking, drinking and field work. Single factor analysis showed that age, work age, smoking, and field work are independent risk factors of prostate disease (P<0.05) . Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that increasing age (OR 1.03) , smoking (OR 1.92) and field work time (OR 1.47) significantly increased the risk of prostate disease in male police after age, smoking, drinking, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, blood lipids and other indicators were adjusted.@*Conclusion@#age, smoking and field work time are risk factors of prostate diseases in the traffic police. There is great significance in publicizing the harmful effects of smoking and reducing the duration of field work.

Generic and Police-Specific Occupational Risk Factors of Mental Health and Well-Being Among Urban and Sub-Urban Malaysian Traffic Police Officers

@#Introduction: Mental health in policing has been widely studied but incidence of mental health illnesses among them keep increasing. This study aimed to analyse generic and specific work stressors among police officers and their differences between urban and sub-urban police population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Kuala Lumpur and in nine sub-urban provinces in Pahang and Negeri Sembilan which involved 328 traffic police officers recruited by universal sampling. Data was collected by using self-administered questionnaire consisted of Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), the Work Family Conflicts (WFC), the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Results: The response rate was 71.30%. Majority of respondents were male (86.59%) with average age of 38.84 years old. The prevalence of probable mental health illnesses was 29.80% in sub-urban and 44.30% in urban. Job demand, role ambiguity, family to work conflicts and almost all specific works stressors were significantly higher among urban respondents. For urban, results showed that the most significant stressor was perceived air pollution (p<0.01) followed by age (p=0.01), job control (p=0.01), and operational stressors (p=0.03). While in sub-urban, the most significant stressors determined were the presence of chronic diseases (p=0.03) and organizational stressors (p=0.01). Conclusion: The prevalence of probable mental health illnesses was high in both study areas and each area had its own unique work stressors. Intervention strategies prioritizing on these factors are therefore recommended.

Respiratory effects of air pollutants among non-smoking traffic policemen: An analytical cross sectional study

Background: Automobile exhaust related air pollution have become a major health hazard. Traffic police personnel, due to their continuous and prolonged exposure are likely to be the worst affected group in this regard. Many studies in the past have documented impaired respiratory function among traffic policemen. Studies from India, exploring the relationship between duration of exposure and respiratory function is necessary. Objective: To compare the pulmonary function parameters between controls and traffic police exposed to air pollutants for variable duration Materials and methods: The study was a community based analytical cross sectional study in Telangana state from August 2012 to November 2013. A total of 120 study participants, including 30 controls and 90 traffic police (30 in each of decadal age groups from 21 to 50 years) were studied. Lung functions were measured by Spirowin. FVC (L), FEV1 (L), FEV1 / FVC ratio, FEF 25 - 75 (L/Sec) and PEFR (L/Sec) were measured and compared. Results: The absolute and percentage predicted values of FEV1 were higher in control group, compared to traffic police and they have shown gradually decreasing trend with increasing age band which was statistically significant. The mean FVC value and percentage predicted was highest in 21 to 30 age group traffic police and showed gradually declining trend with increasing age band. The other pulmonary function parameters like FEV1/FVC, FEF 25-75 and PEFR have also shown gradually declining trend with increasing age group among traffic police. Conclusion: The traffic police had poor respiratory function, compared to general population, which declined with increasing age of the individual and increasing duration of exposure

Occupational exposure to air pollutants: particulate matter and respiratory symptoms affecting traffic-police in Bogotá / Exposición ocupacional a contaminantes atmosféricos: material particulado y síntomas respiratorios en policías de tránsito de Bogotá

Objectives Quantifying personal exposure to particles less than 10 micrometres in diameter (PM10) and determining the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in traffic-police officers working in Bogotá's metropolitan area. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 574 traffic-police officers divided into two groups (477 traffic-police and 97 police working in an office). They were given a questionnaire inquiring about respiratory symptoms, toxicological medical evaluation, lung function tests and personal PM10 monitoring. The differences between groups were found using stratified analysis (i.e. comparing odds ratios). Multivariate analysis of factors related to symptoms and diagnosis of respiratory alteration was also performed. Results Respiratory symptoms concerned a higher prevalence of cough, expectoration and rhinosinusitis in the traffic-police group. Medical examination revealed that the traffic-police group had higher nasal irritation prevalence; lung function tests showed no difference. Mean PM10 levels were higher for the traffic-police group (139.4 μg/m³), compared to the office work group (86.03 μg/m³). Discussion PM10 values in both groups did not exceed allowable limits for respirable particles in the workplace according to ACGIH standards. Traffic-police exposed to air pollution had an increased risk of developing respiratory symptoms and signs, thereby agreeing with the results of this and other studies. Personal monitoring is a valuable tool when quantifying the concentration of PM10to which an individual has been exposed during a normal workday. This study contributes towards further research in to the effects of PM10 in populations at risk.

Objetivos Cuantificar la exposición personal a partículas menores de 10 micras (PM10) y determinar la prevalencia de síntomas respiratorios en policías de tránsito que trabajan en el área metropolitana de Bogotá. Métodos Estudio transversal de 574 policías divididos en dos grupos (477 policías de tránsito y 97 policías de oficina). Se les aplicó cuestionario sobre síntomas respiratorios, evaluación médica toxicológica, pruebas de función pulmonar y monitoreo personal a PM10. Las diferencias entre los grupos se hallaron mediante análisis estratificado y calculo Odds Ratio. Se realizó análisis multivariado de factores relacionados con los síntomas y diagnósticos de alteración respiratoria. Resultados Síntomas respiratorios como tos, expectoración y rinosinusitis tuvieron mayor prevalencia en los policías de tránsito. El examen médico mostró mayor prevalencia de signos de irritación nasal en los policías de tránsito. Pruebas de función pulmonar no mostraron diferencias. Los niveles promedio de PM10 fueron mayores en el grupo de tránsito (139,4 g/m³) comparados con el de oficina (86,03 g/m³). Discusión Los valores de PM10 en ambos grupos no exceden los límites permisibles de partículas respirables en el lugar de trabajo por la ACGIH. Los policías de tránsito expuestos a la contaminación del aire tienen mayor riesgo de desarrollar síntomas y signos respiratorios, como lo muestran este y otros estudios. El monitoreo personal es una herramienta valiosa para cuantificar la concentración de PM10a la cual un individuo está expuesto durante la jornada laboral. Este estudio contribuye a una mayor investigación sobre los efectos de PM10 en las poblaciones en riesgo.

Psychological status and occupational stress among the traffic policemen with metabolic syndrome / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

In this cross-sectional survey,2 682 traffic policemen in Tianjin were enrolled,and they were tested with Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised (OSI-R) and Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90).Body mass index,blood pressure,fasting blood glucose,triglycerides,and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( HDL-C ) were also determined at the same time. Correlation analysis showed that body mass index was positively correlated with somatization ( r =0.039,P =0.045 ),hostility ( r =0.046,P =0.01 8 ),and psychoticism ( r =0.041,P =0.036).Systolic blood pressure was positively correlated to somatization (r =0.056,P =0.004 ),obsessive-compulsiveness ( r =0.044,P =0.023 ),interpersonal sensitivity ( r =0.041,P =0.034 ),depression ( r =0.039,P =0.043),anxiety ( r =0.055,P =0.004 ),and psychoticism ( r =0.051,P =0.009 ).Diastolic blood pressure was positively correlated to somatization ( r =0.047,P =0.015 ),interpersonal sensitivity ( r =0.042,P =0.030 ),anxiety ( r =0.050,P =0.010 ),and psychoticism ( r =0.047,P =0.014 ).Fasting blood glucose was positively correlated to somatization ( r=0.042,P=0.028 ).Multiple regression analysis showed that occupational stress factors were role boundary,physical environment,responsibility,recreation,role ambiguity,role overload,and cognitive coping.Among these factors,role ambiguity and cognitive coping reduced occupational stress while others increased the stress.The results of the unconditional logistical regression analysis showed that there is an independent association of metabolic syndrome with somatization,role insufficiency,and physical strain for the task and body tension ( P＜0.01).

Pulmonary function test in traffic police personnel in Pondicherry.

Traffic policemen working in the busy traffic signal areas get exposed to the vehicular emissions for years together. The fumes, chemicals and particles present in the emission are reported to be damaging to the lung functions of these individuals. Since there were no data available on the PFT parameters of traffic police personnel of Pondicherry, this study was taken up to assess the effect of traffic air pollution on their pulmonary functions. PFT parameters were recorded in age- and BMI-matched 30 traffic police personnel (study group) and 30 general police personnel (control group) of male gender. As chronic smoking is known to be a critical factor in altering lung function, PFT parameters were compared between the smokers as well as nonsmokers of both the groups. In nonsmokers, there was significant decrease in VC (P<0.05), FEV1 (P<0.01), FEF-25 (P<0.05) and PIF (P<0.05) in study group compared to the control group. In smokers, there was significant decrease in VC (P<0.05), FEV1 (P<0.0001), PEF (P<0.0001), MVV (P<0.0001), FEF-25 (P<0.0001), and PIF (P<0.01) in study group compared to the control group. These changes indicate restriction to the lung expansion, obstruction and narrowing of the airways in traffic police personnel compared to the general police personnel. This may be due to exposure to vehicular pollution for several hours in a day for many years causing decreased functional capacity of the lungs and chronic smoking worsens the condition.