Martinus Ginting, Faisal Yunus, Budhi Antariksa
Departemen Pulmonologi dan Ilmu Kedokteran Respirasi, Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia, RS Persahabatan Jakarta
Abstract
Introduction: Air pollution due to road traffic is a serious health hazard and thus the persons who are continuously pollutant exposed, may be at an increased risk. In this respect, traffic policemen are at a risk, since they are continuously exposed to emissions from vehicles, due to the nature of their job. Automobile exhaust consists of oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and others, which cause injury to the terminal bronchioles and a decrease vital capacity. The present study was aimed at assessing the pulmonary function status in traffic policemen in Central Jakarta whether prolonged exposure to vehicular exhausts had any detrimental effect on their lung functions. The relationship between decrements of lung function and various influencing factors also analyzed.
Methods: Across-sectional study was conducted in 170 traffic policemen in Central Jakarta, age 20-55 years, at least 2 years working periods. The data of overall health status was observed using Indonesia Pneumomobile Project Questioner and physical examinations and lung health status was observed using thorax X-ray and spirometry. Level of CO-exhalation was also analyzed.
Results: Total samples included in this study were 130 subjects, 9 subjects were dropped out because uncompleted study’s tests. Analyzed subjects were 121 whose characteristics were 33.9% were in age classifications 41-50 years and mean age was 37.0 (SD 8.8); 57.9% overweight; 55.4% active smokers; 64.5% bad protector application; 47,9% in working periods >10 years; 100% had 56 working hours in a week. Mean CO-exhalation level was 8.7 (SD 5.0). Total 9.9% subjects had abnormal thorax X-ray that 16.7% had lung abnormality and 83.3% were nonlung abnormality. There were 19% subjects recorded lung function decreased included 60.9% mild restriction and 39.1% mild and moderate obstruction. There were no statistical significant between age, nutrition’s classifications, smoking history, protective mask applications, working duration as independent variables and spirometry parameters as dependent variables. Longer working periods with the only dependent variable had statistical significant with decreasing spirometry results with p=0.0014.
Conclusion: This study showed that working periods had statistical significant with lung function decrement. (J Respir Indo. 2015; 35: 97-106)
Keywords: traffic policemen, lung function, CO-exhalation, pollutant