Wear masks or Bengaluru's air pollution will get you: Doctors to traffic cops

Bengaluru: For city traffic cops, their profession comes with a price --most of which includes running to doctors for treatment of various ailments. "They are continuously exposed to vehicular emissions and work in a noisy and polluted environment. Various published research papers on the occupational hazards of being a traffic cop highlight these ailments.

Many policemen are prone to breathing diseases as the volume of traffic is higher in the city," informs Dr. Riyaz Basha S, Deputy Registrar, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. City medical experts have also stressed that the incidence of respiratory diseases in the metropolitan cities is 12 times the national average and 30% of their population suffer from respiratory disease due to vehicular pollution.

Also, a majority of studies done on the subject have reported a decrease in the lung function and increased respiratory morbidity. "The incidence of respiratory diseases in metropolitan cities is 12 times the national average and 30% of their population suffers from a respiratory disease due to vehicular pollution. So one can imagine the health implications on those exposed to high levels of toxic emmissions during work hours," stresses Dr. Durganna T, Medical Superintendent of government-run Victoria hospital.

He adds, "Many of the traffic policemen are suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, characterized by burning or red eyes, shortness of breath, chest discomfort or pain."

Very often these symptoms of a multifactor respiratory disease like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are aggravated following prolonged exposure to pollutants. A recent research paper done on these health implications at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences reveal that prolonged exposure to dust can result in chronic bronchial problems.

"Disease which can result from constant inhalation of these pollutants are: pulmonary emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, epithelial hyperplasia and thickening of epithelium of terminal bronchioles," reads the study. Dr Durganna says, "Wearing masks is an effective way to control inhalation. It is advised that the traffic police should wear an ‘N95’ mask, which has smaller pores than normal masks. Vehicles emit carbon monoxid and police stand for long hours on a daily basis in such areas hence wearing masks is important," he stressed before signing off.