The purpose of this study is to check pulmonary function in traffic and city police of jalgaon city. 120 policemen were selected in the study with age group 30 to 60 years with minimum 5 years of experience for duration of 5 months. PEFR and chest expansion was evaluated for each policemen and was analysed with paired ‘t’ test. Conclusion: Difference in PEFR and Chest Expansion was statistically significant. According to the study Traffic police is more affected than city police because of pollution.
Keywords:
Occupational diseases reflect health hazards brought on by exposure within the work environment. Due to lack of education, unaware of hazards of their occupations, general backwardness in the sanitation, poor nutrition and climatic proneness of this geographic region to epidemics aggravate their health hazards from work environment. [2, 3]
Jalgaon City is the trade and commercial Centre of North Maharashtra Region, India. City includes all type of pollution groups. National Highway No. 6 is passing through the city and the study includes 07 road crossing on the way. The duty hours of traffic policemen are 9 am to 9 pm including recess. It means for at least 10 hrs the traffic policemen working at road crossing receive the heavy dose of vehicular pollution as compare to city police who is having same working hours. [3]
The National Highway (NH 6) Passing through the city is characterized by a continuous flow of heavy-duty trucks and containers. Among the vehicular flow the diesel vehicles are in higher population. Smoke is one of the major outcomes of diesel burning. Nearly all diesel smoke particles fall into the fine particle size. Small size and large number of particles offer greater surface area that allows toxic organic compounds to get adsorb easily. Fine smoke particles can go deep into the lower respiratory tract and damages the lung tissue. [3, 5]
The continuous vehicular exhaust inhalation can lead in the symptom of lower respiratory tract such as cough, shortness of breath and pain with inspiration. All these leads to reduced Pulmonary functions like PEFR. It also results in reduced chest expansion due to accumulation of platelets in pulmonary capillaries. In the long run, the pollutants may produce disease like Asthma and Bronchitis in the exposed individuals with changes in normal lung functions. [5, 6]
This study shows link between exposure to vehicular exhaust and pulmonary function. [6, 8]
120 policemen with minimum 10 years of service experience from age group 30- 60 years were randomize divided into 2 groups i.e Group_ A ( 60 City Policemen) & Group ( 60 Traffic Policemen) with study duration of 5 months. The PEFR testing was conducted by sitting the subject comfortably in the chair. Regular sterilization of the mouth piece was done before the use. The subject were asked to take normal inspiration followed by maximal exhalation. Three such test were performed and subject were coached to improve the efforts. The best of the three performances of PEFR was taken in to account.
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| Normal | Above 300 |
| Below Normal | Below 300 |
Chest Expansion was measured by inch tape. It helps to know the amount of chest tightness or reduced chest expansion due to accumulation of platelets in the pulmonary capillaries and/ or any spinal deformity (Kyphosis, Scoliosis).
Values observed in 120 subjects (60 traffic police & 60 City Police)
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| 30 – 39 yrs |
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| 40 – 49 yrs |
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| Above 50 yrs |
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| Group_A |
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| Group_B |
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19 | 21 |
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33 | 19 |
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8 | 20 |
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38 | 38 |
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14 | 13 |
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8 | 9 |
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4 | 19 |
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56 | 41 |
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| 30 – 39 yrs |
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| 40 – 49 yrs |
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| Above 50 yrs |
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Total 120 subjects out of that 60 traffic policemen & 60 City policemen.
The mean Chest Expansion in 120 policemen of Group_A & Group_B.
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| Group_A |
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| Group_B |
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38 | 38 |
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14 | 13 |
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8 | 9 |
Working years of exposure to air pollutants
Rate of Dyspnoea during working in Traffic and City police.
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19 | 21 |
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33 | 19 |
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8 | 20 |
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in Traffic and City police.
This graph shows the number of policemen having Reduced PEFR in both the groups
Significant difference was observed in the PEFR values of City police vs Traffic police p=0.003.
Also, significant difference was observed between the chest expansion of City police & Traffic police with p=0.001.
There was no significant difference observed in dyspnea grading among City police vs Traffic police.
In the survey conducted in 120 policemen, we found that 23 subjects (4 city policemen & 19 traffic policemen) have reduced Pulmonary functions. Study shows that increase in exposure to pollutants leads in decrease in PEFR values from the expected. With exposure to toxic chemicals and gases released from the vehicular emission produced irritation and allergy in the lungs and air passage of individuals who are exposed for a long time. This leads increase in cough production and bronchoconstriction. Changes in PEFR and lung functions are most probably associated with both exposure and age of the subject. There is chest tightness due to temporary accumulation of platelets in the pulmonary capillaries after organic dust exposure. Vehicular gases act as an irritant to both the alveoli and bronchus.
The test was performed for comparison of reduced pulmonary function in target groups. It was observed that PEFR in traffic policemen was less than the city policemen. Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) is the best test of expiratory efforts. The PEFR was worst affected in traffic policemen. Chest expansion observed is T-Value= 3.44, P-value = 0.001 of the expected value.
This supports that our assumptions is correct, that traffic policemen have respiratory impairment like reduced pulmonary function as well as reduced Chest expansion.
Other factors contributing to dyspnoea and fatigue are:
Increase in physiological dead space.
Lung over inflation
Overloading and weakening of inspiratory muscles.
Increased work of breathing.
The study was restricted to the police community. The Lower age limit was 30 yrs and upper limit was 57 yrs. Difference in PEFR and Chest Expansion was statistically significant.
According to the study Traffic police is more affected than city police because of pollution. Hence, precautionary measures for their health are needed by carrying out health promotion and health education activities.
I would like to thank my parents for the constant support and strength. I am extremely grateful to Dr. Sachin Chaudhary for his advice and help. I express my humble gratitude to Dr.Milind Kahile under whose expert guidance I was able to successfully complete the study. I am thankful to Dr. Nikhil Patil for his constant support and help. I am also thankful for all teachers for their encouragement and help. Last but not the least, I express my thanks to all my subjects who participated in my study and gave their full cooperation for its completion.
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