title: Plasma concentration of adrenocorticotropic hormone in traffic policemen.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether traffic policemen exposed to urban pollutants and possible psycho-social stressors could be at risk of changes on plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH(P)] levels compared to a control group. Traffic policemen were matched by sex, age, length of service and drinking habit (<50 g of wine or beer per day) with a control group after excluding principal confounding factors; 62 traffic policemen with outdoor activity (34 men and 28 women) and 62 control subjects with indoor activity (34 men and 28 women) were included in the study. The levels of ACTH(P) were significantly higher in male and female traffic policemen than in the control subjects (respectively P=0.040, P=0.043). The authors hypothesise that occupational exposure to chemical and physical stressors, that may interact with possible psycho-social stressors, could cause a change in ACTH(P) levels in traffic policemen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Via Monte delle Gioie No. 13, 00199 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomei
authors.forename: Maria Valeria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.forename: Tiziana Paola
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Baccolo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernardini
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciarrocca
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomao
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016495:Police; D012307:Risk Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone