Study of Forced Vital Capacity using Computerized Automated flow Spirometry in Auto rickshaw Drivers

Professional drivers e.g. auto rickshaw drivers who spend a lot of time in the traffic are at higher risk to develop respiratory diseases. Present study is designed to evaluate important ventilatory lung functions i.e Forced Vital Capacity in auto rickshaw drivers of Pune city.

The study group were 100 auto rickshaw drivers who had been driving auto rickshaws of open cabin type for more than 8 hr/day in Pune city. Out of 100 study subjects 33 were driving for the period of 3 - 5 years (Group Ia) and 67 were driving more than 5 years (Group Ib) A group of another 100 individuals who were normal citizens, not auto rickshaw drivers, working in offices etc. and minimally exposed to traffic pollution was also selected as a control group. Forced vital capacity (FVC) was recorded of all the subjects on the automated flow Spirometer.

The FVC of the subjects in Group Ib when compared with the Control group showed very highly significant reduction (p < 0.001) suggestive of a restrictive type of lung function impairment.

Vehicular fuel exhaust pollution as a whole namely PM, SO₂, NO₂, O₃ etc. act in tandem and cause structural damage to the lung there by causing reduced compliance and various other tissue changes leading to a restrictive paern of pulmonary dysfunction.