title: Respiratory symptom, lung function and exhaled carbon monoxide among a sample of traffic workers in Lagos, Nigeria: A pilot survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is a major source of air pollution but the impact on health in Nigeria is not well described.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study of road traffic workers and university students in Lagos. Eligible, accessible and willing participants were included in the sample. Respiratory symptoms and anthropometry were obtained from all the participants using an adapted Medical Research Council (MRC) questionnaire and they all did a spirometry test and exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-nine individuals participated with complete data, including 47 traffic policemen and 12 students who acted as controls. The mean age (SD) was 35.1 (8.0) and 35.4 years (6.3) for the traffic workers and students, respectively. All the respondents were men. The mean (SD) duration of occupation as a traffic policeman was 4.4 (4.4) and a median of 4 years (range 1-25). There was no significant difference in the presentation of respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms between the two groups. Compared with the students, the traffic workers had higher age, height and sex adjusted forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity. Traffic policemen had significantly higher levels of exhaled CO than the students (1.18 vs 0.73 ppm, P < 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms in both traffic policemen and non-traffic residents of Lagos metropolis, indicating widespread pollution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Daniel O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Obaseki
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bamidele
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adeniyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Johnbull
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jumbo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Atinuke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oyewo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kog State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Iziegbe
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Irabor
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Erhabor
keywords: Lung function; pollution; traffic; traffic policemen
references.citation: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995 Mar;151(3 Pt 1):669-74
references.pmid: 7881654
references.citation: BMJ Open. 2012 Oct 11;2(5):
references.pmid: 23065446
references.citation: Environ Res. 2000 Mar;82(3):222-30
references.pmid: 10702329
references.citation: JAMA. 2002 Mar 6;287(9):1132-41
references.pmid: 11879110
references.citation: Lancet. 2002 Oct 19;360(9341):1203-9
references.pmid: 12401246
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 1993 Dec 9;329(24):1753-9
references.pmid: 8179653
references.citation: Clin Chem. 1995 Oct;41(10):1434-8
references.pmid: 7586513
references.citation: Eur Respir J. 2005 Aug;26(2):319-38
references.pmid: 16055882
references.citation: Bull World Health Organ. 2000;78(9):1078-92
references.pmid: 11019457
references.citation: Environ Int. 2002 Nov;28(5):375-82
references.pmid: 12437287
references.citation: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999 Jan;159(1):179-87
references.pmid: 9872837
references.citation: Environ Int. 2006 Jan;32(1):106-20
references.pmid: 16005066