Background: Air pollution is found to be on an increasing trend due to increase in number of vehicles on the road. Incomplete combustion of diesel in motor vehicles gives rise to various gases, liquids and solid particles. Bus drivers and conductors are exposed to it for more than 8 hours a day. The aim of this study is to compare the pulmonary functions in bus drivers and conductors with healthy indoor office workers, and also to determine the effect of duration of exposure to vehicle exhaust on pulmonary functions.
Materials and Methods: 200 male participants were selected from the community of which 100participants were bus drivers and conductors of 20 to 50 years age, and 100 participants were indoor office workers. Pulmonary function parameters, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, and MVV were assessed by EASYONETM DIAGNOSTIC SPIROMETER.
Results: The FVC and FEV1 were reduced to an extremely low level and was statistically significant in bus drivers and conductors when compared to indoor office workers. The FEV1/FVC ratio and MVV were also reduced but it was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The respiratory functions of the bus drivers and conductors were significantly reduced when compared to the control groups.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
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