A Study on Respiratory Morbidities and Pulmonary Functions among Traffic Policemen in Bengaluru City.

CONTEXT: Air pollution is a major public health problem in the present Indian cities, due to unplanned urbanization and increased use of vehicles. Traffic policemen, due to the nature of their job and working atmosphere, are more prone to develop respiratory problems such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, rhinitis, recurrent respiratory tract infections, and others. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to find out the respiratory morbidities and to assess their pulmonary function using computerized spirometry among traffic policemen in Bengaluru city. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of 6 months (from January 2018 to June 2018) in randomly selected traffic police stations in South Bengaluru, Karnataka. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the demographic profile, duration of exposure, smoking history, allergy/asthma history, and the use of personal protective measures. Pulmonary function test (PFT) was done to assess the lung function using computerized spirometry. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were entered and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016 version. RESULTS: A total of 217 traffic policemen were included in the study. The mean duration of working in the traffic department was 5.9 ± 6.6 years (mean ± standard deviation). Among them, 101 (46.5%) used personal protective measures. Allergic rhinitis was reported by 38 (17.5%) individuals, and 28 (12.9%) individuals had chest symptoms (cough and breathing difficulty). Among them, 44 (20.3%) experienced exacerbation of these symptoms at the workplace. Observed mean values of all parameters in the PFT were less than their predicted (expected) values. CONCLUSIONS: There was increased burden of respiratory problems and lower lung volumes and flows among traffic policemen.

Association of urinary metal profiles with serum uric acid: a cross-sectional study of traffic policemen in Wuhan, China.

OBJECTIVES: Serum uric acid (SUA) is both a strong antioxidant and one of the key risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We aimed to investigate the associations of urinary metal profile with SUA in traffic policemen in Wuhan, China. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was carried out in traffic policemen. SETTING: A seriously polluted Chinese city. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 186 traffic policemen were recruited in this study. About 56 of them worked in the logistics department and the other 130 maintained traffic order or dealt with traffic accidents on the roads. All these subjects had worked as a policeman for at least 1 year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SUA. RESULTS: The significantly negative association of lead with SUA was consistent between single-metal and multiple-metal models (p=0.004 and p=0.020, respectively). Vanadium, chromium and tin were reversely associated with SUA levels in the single-metal models after false discovery rate (FDR) adjustment (all P_FDR < 0.05). One IQR increase in vanadium, chromium, tin and lead was associated with 26.9 µmol/L (95% CI -44.6 to -9.2; p=0.003), 27.4 µmol/L (95% CI -46.1 to -8.8; p=0.004), 11.2 µmol/L (95% CI -18.9 to -3.4; p=0.005) and 16.4 µmol/L (95% CI -27.6 to -5.2; p=0.004) decrease in SUA, respectively. Significant interaction between smoking and vanadium on decreased SUV was found (pfor interaction = 0.007 and p_FDR = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary vanadium, chromium, tin and lead were negatively associated with SUA. Vanadium and cigarette smoking jointly affected SUA levels. Further studies are needed to replicate these findings and to investigate the potential mechanisms.

No Correlation between Blood Benzene Levels and Luteinizing Hormone Plasma Values in Outdoor Workers.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether low-dose exposure to benzene, an environmental pollutant to which male and female traffic policemen are daily exposed to could cause alterations in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. METHODS: From an initial sample of 1594 workers, we only selected 95 workers of whom study we knew the values of late-shift benzene and LH hormone. All subjects underwent biological monitoring (final blood benzene evaluation) and luteinizing hormone dosing. Excluding subjects with the main confounding factors, the final sample included 76 workers. The normal distribution of the variables was evaluated using the Kolmogorov - Smirnov test, followed by the logarithmic transformation of the LH and benzene values. The comparison among means was performed by using the t-test for the independent samples. The ANOVA test was performed for variables with more than 2 modes (ages and seniority) and Pearson correlation index between variables in the total sample and after subdivision as to sex, job, sports activity and smoking. The results were considered significant when p values were less than 0.05. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The study did not show a correlation between benzene levels and LH plasma levels in outdoor workers.

Heavy metal pollution in Nanchang City and its health implication on traffic policemen.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the health effect of heavy metal pollution in air pollutants on traffic policemen. This study will facilitate the scientific evaluation of health status of traffic policemen. PM10 samples were collected from industrial area, congested traffic area and residential area respectively in Nanchang City, and the concentrations of heavy metals were analyzed. The traffic policemen were examined through chest X-rays. The total of 637 urine samples and 142 blood samples have been collected, and the concentrations of Pb in samples were detected. Vehicle flux data of Nanchang City were collected from the Department of Transport's Traffic Management. Statistic analyses were carried out by statistics software of Excel 2003 and SPSS20.0, and the health effect of heavy metal pollution of PM10 on the traffic policemen was evaluated. The discharge of pollutants from enterprises is an important reason for the high content of heavy metals in urban air pollution. With the rapid growth of urban traffic flow, Bayi Bridge becomes an important transportation hinge in Nanchang City, and the bidirectional traffic flow rate through the bridge at peak hours reached 99 vehicles per minute. The latent hazard of occupational harm on the traffic policemen caused by automobile exhaust is increasing. The concentration of Pb in the urine and blood samples from traffic policemen working in Nanchang City was 268.310 ± 177.031 and 22.873 ± 21.137 µg/L, respectively. Both results (2.04% of Pb in urine and 18.31% of Pb in blood) exceeded the highest limit of observed occupationally outdoor workers. This study provides an initial contribution for the assessment of city air pollution, esp. the health effect of heavy metal (Pb) pollution on traffic policemen.

Respiratory Effects of Exposure to High Levels of Particulate Among Malaysian Traffic Police

Abstract@#Introduction: Malaysian traffic police are always working on the public roads to alleviate traffic congestion and therefore exposed them to the polluted air every day. In particular, polluted air containing PM2.5 is dangerous to their respiratory health as they can penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to bronchitis, lung cancer and many more. Hence, this research examined the relationship of personal exposure level to PM2.5 with respiratory symptoms among traffic policemen in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. Methods: 134 participants among traffic policemen were agreed to participate in this study. They were requested to complete a questionnaire regarding the sociodemographic background and respiratory health information. The questionnaire was adopted from International Union Against Tuberculosis Lung Diseases (1986). Personal exposure level of PM2.5 was measured using an air pump with 5.0µm pore size PVC filter. Results: The mean exposure level of PM2.5 among traffic policemen was 28.69 µg/m3. It was found that some of them possess respiratory symptoms (Coughing 33.6%, Phlegm 25.4%, Wheezing 14.9% and Shortness of breath 32.1%). There was significant association detected at p-value < 0.05 in coughing. Despite, there was no significant association in other symptoms such as phlegm, wheezing and shortness of breath. Conclusions: Traffic police were exposed to a relatively high level of PM2.5 (12.4 µg/m3 to 55.3 µg/m3) and showed symptoms of respiratory effects. Therefore, recognition of the risks connected with occupational lung disease and exposure monitoring must be a high priority. This baseline data can serve as a reference to the top management of traffic police officers in order to develop an occupational safety and health guideline for police officers as required by Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA, Act 514 1994).

Blood pressure in indoor and outdoor workers.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study is to evaluate the changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in two occupational categories: outdoor workers (traffic policemen and environment technicians) and indoor workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted comparing the results obtained from three samples of male workers: 175 outdoor traffic policemen, 175 outdoor environment technicians and 175 indoor workers. The outdoor and indoor groups were made comparable by age, length of service, body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking status. RESULTS: The mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were found higher in traffic policemen and technicians than in indoor workers, as well as higher values of systolic blood pressure in traffic policemen than in technicians. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that outdoor working affects the blood pressure, contributing to an increased cardiovascular risk.

Relationship between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular risk factors among outdoor male traffic policemen / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To comprehend the prevalence status of elevated serum uric acid(SUA) and investigate the relationship between elevated SUA and cardiovascular risk factors and the clustering of the cardiovascular risk factors among outdoor male traffic policemen. METHODS: Selected by convenience sampling,1 039 outdoor traffic policemen in Guangzhou were asked to complete a questionnaire survey,physical and laboratory examination. According to the level of SUA > 420. 00 μmol/L or not,they were divided into elevated SUA group and control group. RESULTS: The median SUA level of outdoor male traffic policemen was 431. 00 μmol/L,and the elevated SUA prevalence was 56. 3%. The length of working years,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,and levels of serum triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and serum creatinine(Scr) in the elevated SUA group were statistically higher than the control group(P < 0. 01). The high density lipoprotein cholesterol level was lower in the control group than that in the elevated SUA group(P < 0. 01). After adjusting for age and alcohol consumption,the results of multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that outdoor traffic policemen who suffer from overweight or obesity,elevated TG and elevated TC have more risk in suffering from elevated SUA(P < 0. 05). The odds ratios(ORs) and 95%confidence intervals(CIs) were 2. 347(1. 772-3. 109),2. 040(1. 517-2. 743) and 1. 431(1. 080-1. 896) respectively.The risk factors of suffering from elevated SUA increased along with the increase of outdoor working years or Scr level(P <0. 05). The ORs and 95% CIs were 1. 028(1. 004-1. 054) and 1. 048(1. 033-1. 062) respectively. The proportion of people with elevated SUA among outdoor traffic policemen increased with the increase of cardiovascular risk factors(P <0. 01). The risk of elevated SUA among outdoor male traffic policemen who have 1,2,3,4 and ≥5 cardiovascular risk factors were 1. 583,2. 351,4. 657,2. 865 and 13. 576 times higher than those without cardiovascular risk factor respectively(P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Among outdoor male traffic policemen,elevated SUA are closely associated with the cardiovascular risk factors. The risk factors of suffering from elevated SUA increased with clustering of cardiovascular risk factors.

Analysis of effect of different training programs of pre hospital emergency treatment for highway traffic policemen / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective Through investigation and training in the knowledge and skills of pre hospital emergency treatment in Xuzhou highway traffic policemen,we explored a more targeted and more effective first-aid skills training program.Methods Based on our hospital emergency center 91 highway traffic policemen were randomly assigned to 3 first aid skills training groups,group 1 received theoretical training and operational training,group 2 was given the same theoretical training and operational training after DVD player,group 3 took the same method as that of group 2,besides,situational training was given to group 3.The emergency treatment technique was evaluated post training.Results After the training,the scores of 3 groups were different from each other,group 3 had the best results compared with group 1 and group 2.Conclusions The highway traffic policemen had poor emergency treatment knowledge.They should be trained with first aid knowledge and skills as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

Respiratory symptom, lung function and exhaled carbon monoxide among a sample of traffic workers in Lagos, Nigeria: A pilot survey.

BACKGROUND: Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is a major source of air pollution but the impact on health in Nigeria is not well described. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study of road traffic workers and university students in Lagos. Eligible, accessible and willing participants were included in the sample. Respiratory symptoms and anthropometry were obtained from all the participants using an adapted Medical Research Council (MRC) questionnaire and they all did a spirometry test and exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) test. RESULTS: Fifty-nine individuals participated with complete data, including 47 traffic policemen and 12 students who acted as controls. The mean age (SD) was 35.1 (8.0) and 35.4 years (6.3) for the traffic workers and students, respectively. All the respondents were men. The mean (SD) duration of occupation as a traffic policeman was 4.4 (4.4) and a median of 4 years (range 1-25). There was no significant difference in the presentation of respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms between the two groups. Compared with the students, the traffic workers had higher age, height and sex adjusted forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity. Traffic policemen had significantly higher levels of exhaled CO than the students (1.18 vs 0.73 ppm, P < 0.006). CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms in both traffic policemen and non-traffic residents of Lagos metropolis, indicating widespread pollution.

Self Assessment of Hearing Quality and Noise-Related Attitudes among Traffic Policemen of Patiala, India.

The study was conducted on a group of 90 traffic policemen aged 20-50 years and working in and around Patiala district to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practices toward the ill effects caused by traffic noise on health. The subjects were required to fill up a questionnaire regarding their self-assessment of hearing ability, noise-related attitudes, and the use of personal protective equipment such as earplugs. The mean age of subjects was 39.8 ± 5.80 years, while the mean duration of exposure to traffic noise was 10.56 ± 6.43 years. Only 5.5% subjects felt that their hearing was below average. As many as 61% subjects had work-related tinnitus. It was observed that none of them had ever used ear plugs, mainly due to their non availability. The self-assessment of hearing by traffic policemen indicated that most of them had normal hearing. However, to find out the exact number of cases with hearing impairment, further evaluation with audiometry is recommended in them.

Noise-induced hearing loss in workers exposed to urban stressors.

The technological and industrial progress together with the intensification of vehicular traffic and the adoption of new social habits are the cause of an increasing noise pollution with possible negative effects on the auditory system. This study aims to assess the noise exposure levels and the effects on the hearing threshold in outdoor and indoor male workers of a big Italian city. The study was carried out on 357 outdoor male workers, exposed to urban noise and on a control group of 357 unexposed indoor workers. Noise levels were measured in 30 outdoor and indoor areas. The subjects underwent tonal liminal audiometry in order to determine the value of their hearing threshold. During their working activity, outdoor and indoor workers are exposed to different noise levels LEX<80 dB(A). At mid-low frequencies (250-2000 Hz), the results show significant differences in the average values of hearing threshold between the two groups in both ears and for all age classes; there are no significant differences between the two groups at higher frequencies. The outdoor noise levels measured are not usually ototoxic and the hearing loss at mid-low frequencies is not characteristic of the exposure to industrial noise. For these reasons the Authors hypothesize that the results may be due to the combined effect of the exposure to noise and to ototoxic air pollutants. The impairment of speech frequencies is disabling and involves the risk of missed forensic recognition.

Respiratory effects of air pollutants among nonsmoking traffic policemen of Patiala, India.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution due to road traffic is a serious health hazard and thus the persons who are continuously exposed, may be at an increased risk. Although several studies have confirmed the ill effects of air pollutants on the lung function of traffic policemen, only a few have investigated the relationship between respiratory health and duration of exposure in this category of occupationally exposed persons. AIM: The study was carried out with the aim of evaluating the extent of impairment in lung function in traffic policemen in respect to an unexposed control group having the same age group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which the spirometric parameters of a group of 100 nonsmoking traffic policemen, aged 20-55 years, working in and around Patiala city, were compared with those obtained in an age-matched control group, consisting of 100 healthy males, serving in the Punjab Police, who have never done traffic duty and are thus not exposed to traffic pollution. Lung function was done with MEDSPIROR. The data on the overall health status of the subjects was collected using the standard Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire. The statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS PC software version 13. RESULTS: Traffic policemen recorded a significant decline in various parameters, such as forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) when compared with controls, and is probably due to exposure to vehicular pollution. It was also observed that in traffic policemen with >8 years of exposure, the values of FVC (2.7 L), FEV(1) (1.8 L), and PEFR (7.5 L/s) were significantly lower than those obtained in traffic policemen with <8 years of exposure, in whom the values were 2.9 L, 2.3 L, and 7.7 L/s for FVC, FEV(1), and PEFR, respectively. CONCLUSION: The effect of pollution by vehicular exhausts may be responsible for these pulmonary function impairments.

Study on Effect of Traffic Exhaust Pollution on Saturation of Carboxyhemoglobin in Traffic Policemen / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To study the effect of automobile exhaust pollution saturation of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in traffic policemen. Methods 169 traffic policemen working outdoors were selected as a exposure group and 112 traffic policemen working indoors as control group in a traffic policemen detachment in Tangshan. Questionnaires and health examination were conducted in two groups. The carbon monoxide levels in the exhalation were measured in 281 traffic policemen by a micro_smokerlyzer and the corresponding saturation of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) were read. Results The higher saturation of carboxyhemoglobin were observed in exposure group (2.30%?1.49%) compared with those (1.71%?0.99%) in control group (P

The Effects of Air Pollution on Respiratory Health in Traffic Policemen in Nanning City / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To assess the effects of air pollution on health of traffic policemen. Methods Sampling and the analysis of air pollution were conducted according to China national standards. 214 traffic policemen were investigated. Of them 149 were working on the streets and 65 were working in the office (taken as the control). Individual respiratory symptoms occupational histories and medical records were obtained using standardized questionnaire. Results The prevalence rates of cough and expectoration excessive phlegm eyes and throat unwell fatigue in policemen working on the streets were significantly higher than that in policemen working in the office and were correlated to the level of air pollution(P