title: Particulate air pollution and chronic respiratory symptoms among traffic policemen in Bangkok.
abstract: In this cross-sectional study, the authors examined the relationship between traffic-based air pollution and chronic, nonspecific respiratory symptoms among traffic policemen in Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 1,603 policemen who lived and worked in areas that had 3 different levels of airborne particulates were evaluated. The authors used a modified standardized questionnaire to identify nonspecific respiratory disease (NSRD) in participants. The prevalence of NSRD in heavily polluted, moderately polluted, and suburban areas was 13.0%, 10.9%, and 9.4%, respectively. Among nonsmokers, the age-adjusted prevalence of NSRD in the heavily polluted areas was significantly higher than in the suburban control area. Also among nonsmokers, the odds ratio for NSRD for each 10-microg/m3 increase in ambient particulate matter was 1.11. The authors concluded that the increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms among traffic policemen in Bangkok was associated with urban traffic air pollution.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Sciences Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Wanida
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jinsart
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Kanae
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karita
authors.forename: Doungrutai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boudoung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002947:Cities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016495:Police; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions