Abstract
Regular exposure to high levels of vehicular air pollutants is likely to predispose road transport workers (bus drivers, conductors and garage workers) to a high risk of respiratory illnesses.
Aim: To study the prevalence of respiratory symptoms amongst road transport workers from Andhra Pradesh State of India.
Methods: All employees present and willing to participate, from 24 randomly selected bus depots of 7 cities and towns of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) participated in this cross sectional study. Every individual was administered a respiratory health questionnaire that captured prevalence of respiratory symptoms.
Results: 7154 employees (41.4% drivers, 30.4% conductors, 15.9% garage workers, 7.9% office workers) participated in the study. Average age was 41.6±9.5 years. 27% of all the RTC employees had at least one respiratory symptom during the previous 3 months. Prevalences of rhinitis/rhino-sinusitis, cough, wheeze, breathlessness and chest pain/tightness were 14.7%, 10.5%, 8.3%, 7.9% and 5.6% respectively. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms were significantly higher in office workers (34.9%) as compared to drivers (24.2%; p<0.0001), conductors (25.4%; p<0.0001); and garage workers (30.0%; p< 0.05). Prevalence of respiratory symptoms amongst garage workers was also significantly higher than drivers and conductors (p<0.0001 and p=0.005 respectively). Smoking was not a confounding factor.
Conclusion: Road transport workers have a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms with significantly greater values amongst office based workers and garage workers when compared to drivers and conductors.
- © 2011 ERS
