Air pollution from vehicles is the main source of pollution in capital city of Bangladesh. Road traffic has the potential to significantly increase emissions of pollutants such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter, and hydrocarbons. These pollutants can induce harmful effects on health. Road traffic exposes traffic police to the detrimental effects of air pollutants on respiratory health. This study determined the frequency of chronic respiratory illnesses and its related factors among traffic police in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This study had a cross-sectional design conducted in a total of 384 traffic polices in different traffic zone of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. A questionnaire was used to inquire about socio-economic characteristics, occupational factors and respiratory health problems of traffic polices. According to the present study, most the respondents (84.4%) had respiratory problems and among them cough problem are most common (31.2.1%) followed by phlegm problem (27.6%), whistling problem (15.4%) when getting cold, and breathlessness when walking (4.4%) respectively. About 3.1% were suffering from asthma and among them 2.1% had been suffering from asthma for less than 15 years. About 9.1% cases there had a history of parental lung diseases and lung cancer are the most common (1.3%). Among the Safe PM 2.5 status only 75.9% have respiratory problems and 95.2% having respiratory problems were in unhealthy PM2.5 status. And it is also shown that there was significant association between respiratory problems and PM2.5 status. Among the Safe PM 10 status 70.6% have respiratory problems and 98.9% having respiratory problems were in unsafe PM 10status. And it is also shown that there was significant association between respiratory problems and PM 10 status. The respiratory symptoms and illnesses observed among traffic police are associated with their exposure to air pollutants from road traffic.

Keywords: Traffic Air Pollution, Respiratory Health, Traffic police.

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Dr Ashekur Rahman Mullick

Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control & Research (IEDCR), Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh