Saritha Jayachandran Shenoy 1 , Sumadevi Vengasseril Sarasamma
BACKGROUND Environmental pollution and human efforts for the betterments of living standards are the two sides of the same coin. In the wake of industrialisation and ever increasing population, the basic amenities of life, that is air, water and land are being polluted continuously. Independent investigations have suggested a possible relationship between chronic exposure to pollutants and poor pulmonary function. This study will contribute to our understanding of effects of air pollution on pulmonary function in traffic policemen and the need for regular medical check-ups and adopting preventive measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS A case-control study was done by conducting three medical camps at AR Camp, Kottayam. All subjects under study were divided into three categories and a medical checkup was conducted to rule out medical illness and to collect anthropometric details. The pulmonary function tests carried out in this study using a portable spirometer are FVC, FEV1, FEV1%, FEF25-75% and PEFR. Data analysis was done using independence sample t-test and chi-square test in SPSS of windows version 10. RESULTS Higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms in traffic policemen compared to other groups. All three groups had normal pulmonary function status. Lower values of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEFR and FEF25-75% were obtained in traffic and non-traffic policemen compared to healthy adults. PFT values were lower in traffic police exposed for longer periods. There is lesser amount of air pollution in Kottayam compared to other cities. CONCLUSION There is no significant decline in lung function in the exposed group of traffic police. Lower values in PFT in non-traffic police was due to indirect exposure to pollutants as they were inmates of AR camp, which is located at the centre of Kottayam town. The normal controls were mainly labourers and agriculturists of rural area.
