Respiratory Morbidity Attributed to Auto-exhaust Pollution in Traffic Policemen of Jaipur, India

AIMS: This study was conducted to evaluate pulmonary effects of traffic pollution on traffic police. METHODS: The traffic police working in Jaipur city were given a predetermined respiratory health questionnaire, and their clinical profile and lung functions were measured. RESULTS: This study showed that there were prominent respiratory symptoms and reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) in subjects exposed to traffic pollution. When smokers were excluded, it showed a significant difference in FEV(1) data of non-smoking subjects exposed to traffic generated pollution and those not exposed. The difference observed was 95.3 +/- 13.6 versus 87.8 +/- 0.95%, respectively, and 95%CI = 4.420-10.517, p = 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory morbidity with respect to lung function tests is observed more in groups working in heavy traffic than the control group.