Respiratory Symptoms and Pulmonary Function of
Traffic Policemen in Thonburi
PHUNSUP WONGSURAKIAT, M.D.*, KHUN NANTA MARANETRA, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.A.C.P.*,
ARTH NANA, M.D.*,
CHANA NARUMAN, M.Sc.*,
MONCHAI AKSORNINT, P.N.*,
TARNTHIP CHALERMSANYAKORN, B.Sc.**
Affiliation : * Department of Medicine,
** Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok
10700, Thailand.
t Presented at the 38th Annual Congress of Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital on 5th of March, 1998.
AbstractA cross-sectional study was conducted to assess whether traffic policemen working in
Thonburi district of Bangkok had poorer respiratory health than the normal Thai population. The
benefits of wearing masks as a preventative measure against the respiratory hazards of air pollution
were assessed. Traffic policemen (n=629) who had worked in Thonburi and male subjects (n=303,
the control group) were evaluated for respiratory symptoms using the British Medical Research
Council questionnaire. Their pulmonary function was measured by spirometry. Only non-smokers
were included in the final analysis and it was found that traffic policemen (n=242) suffered signi-
ficantly more cough or phlegm (18.6% vs 7.8%, P=0.005) and more rhinitis symptoms (17.8% vs
7.8%, P=0.009) than the control subjects (n=129). The traffic policemen also had a significantly
higher prevalence of abnormal air flow (FEV1<80% predicted) than the control group (21.1% vs
12.4%, P=0.04). The mean values of FEV1 and FVC of the traffic policemen were significantly
lower than the control group (3.29 ± 0.5 L vs 3.43 ± 0.5 L, P=0.01 for FEV1 and 3.86 ± 0.5 L vs
3.98 ± 0.6 L, P=0.047 for FVC). Traffic policemen who did not use protective masks had not
only a significantly higher prevalence of abnormal FEVl but also a significantly higher preva-
lence of abnormal FVC than the control group (35% vs 14%, P=0.046). They also had higher rela-
tive risks of abnormal FEV1 (2.76 vs 1.63) and FVC (2.51 vs 1.23) than those who used protective
masks. Multivariate analyses with controlling for age, height, and pack-years of cigarette smoking,
revealed that the traffic policemen were significantly and independently associated with lower
FEV1 and FVC.
In conclusion, the traffic policemen who work in Thonburi have more cough and rhinitis
symptoms and lower FEVl and FVC than the normal Thai population. Traffic policemen who do not
use protective masks have higher relative risks of abnormal FEVl and FVC than those who use
them.
Keywords : Respiratory Symptoms, Pulmonary Function, Traffic Policemen, Thonburi
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