Effect of Traffic Emission on Respiratory System of Nonsmoking Traffic Policemen at Northern Gaza Governorate – Palestine

Abstract

Background: Traffic emission is a major source of air pollution in urban areas and induce health effects on the population specially whom are exposed for long time to pollutants. Traffic police (TP) are considered a high-risk population due to their occupational exposure where there might be negative impacts on their Respiratory system. Methodology: The ambient air quality monitoring was carried out mainly (CO and CO2) during this study in many sites of Jabalia (city and camp). Since there were no data available about the levels of air, pollutants in the study area. The Pulmonary Function Test (PFT), parameters of traffic police TP, personnel of Jabalia was unknown. This is a Case-Control study (to evaluate the pulmonary function of TP) where the study sample are traffic policemen working in the fields, thus being highly exposed to car emissions, and the control group is composed of traffic police managers who perform office – based duties; thus; being less exposed to car emissions. Results: The obtained limits of air pollutants compared with the standards guidelines and it was more than the acceptable levels (CO 19.ppm, CO2 530.5ppm). The spirometric analysis of traffic police shows significant variation in Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC). The parameters significantly affected in the traffic police as against the control group. It reveals significant respiratory impairment in the traffic police due to exposure to car emissions. The changes in lung function indicate restriction to the lung expansion, obstruction and narrowing of the airways in traffic police personnel. The study suggest protection and therapy plan. Conclusion: Unacceptable levels of air pollutants (CO 19.3ppm, CO2 530.5ppm) and an impaired lunge function was noticed in this study.