Abstract

Background: Increased vehicular pollution is an occupational hazard to people working in traffic such as bus rapid transit,system (BRTS) wardens which impairs the lung functions causing a discrepancy between chronological and observed,age of lung, resulting in early lung aging. Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare the increase in lung,age (LA) due to various etiologies by assessing the lung functions of people working in traffic such as BRTS wardens.,
Materials and Methods: A total of 174 subjects were studied after dividing them into cases (n = 87, BRTS traffic wardens,who were exposed to vehicular exhaust) and control (n = 87, age- and sex-matched subjects who were not exposed to,vehicular exhaust) from June to July 2017 at BRTS bus depot and workshop, Indore. Detailed history along with pulmonary,function test was done using computerized spirometer.
Results: Comparison of percentage prediction of LA between cases,and controls was 110.8 ± 33.6 and 97.9 ± 23.8, respectively (t = 2.90; P = 0.004), between non-smokers cases (n = 67) with,that of non-smoker control group (n = 77) was 109.4 ± 34.1 and 95.3 ± 19.5 (t = 3.10; P = 0.002), between smokers cases,(n = 4) with that of smokers in control group (n = 4) was 100.3 ± 25.5 and 154.8 ± 36.2 (t = −2.46; P = 0.049), between,cases (n = 47) and controls (n = 79) depending on the duration of exposure was (>1 year) was 114.6 ± 38.5 and 97.7 ± 23.2,(t = 3.08; P = 0.003), and between cases (n = 47) and controls (n = 69) depending on the duration of exposure in hours,(8 h) was 109.2 ± 37.2 and 96.1 ± 21.3 (t = 2.41; P = 0.018), respectively. Conclusion: LA was significantly more among,non-smoker cases (BRTS wardens) and particularly the cases more exposed to the pollution. However, smoking among,cases and controls overshadowed the effect of air pollution in causing lung aging. These findings suggest that though air,pollution causes lung aging, smoking, still, is the major etiology causing increased lung aging.