1MBBS Intern, Jipmer, Puducherry
2Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, JIPMER
3Senior Resident, Department of Physiology, JIPMER
4Additional Professor and HOD, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, JIPMER
5Associate Professor, Department of P&SM, JIPMER
6MBBS Intern, Jipmer, Puducherry
7Professor, Department of Physiology, ESI Medical College, K.K. Nagar, Chennai
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Dhanalakshmi. Y., Associate Professor, Dept. of Physiology, Jipmer, Puducherry, Mobile: 9444781210, e-mail: saidhanalakshmi04@yahoo.com
Online published on 21 November, 2019.
Occupational health is attaining significance for the reason that long term exposure to automobile fumes and environmental pollutants can lead to irreversible morbidity. This study will help in assessing the effects of smoking and occupational exposure to ambient air pollution on respiratory functions.
To assess and compare pulmonary function parameters among smoking and non-smoking auto rickshaw drivers.
Auto rickshaw drivers between 20 to 50 years of age were recruited in the study and grouped into smokers and non smokers. Anthropometric parameters, pack years of smoking amongst smokers, years of driving were obtained. The Pulmonary function test parameters were recorded by a standard computerized Spirometer model “SPIROLAB III”. All parameters were analyzed using Student's independent ‘t’ test in SPSS 19 version.
There was a statistically significant reduction in PEFR among smokers when compared to non smokers. The mean FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and FEF25–75 were also found to be reduced in smokers when compared to non-smokers but were not statistically significant.
The study showed that Peak Expiratory Flow Rate is reduced significantly among smokers when compared to non smokers in three wheeler auto rickshaw drivers.
PEFR, auto rickshaw drivers, Pulmonary function test, duration of driving
