Κατεύθυνση Βιοστατιστική
Library of the School of Health Sciences

2014-09-15

2014

Κουτεντάκης Κωνσταντίνος

Κλέα Κατσουγιάννη, Άννα Καρακατσάνη, Φραγκίσκος Καπιτσιμάδης

Επαγγελματική έκθεση σε ατμοσφαιρικούς ρύπους και αναπνευστικό σύστημα

Multilingual

Occupational exposure to air pollutants and effects on mail carriers’ respiratory system, in Athens.

Background: Previous epidemiological studies have demonstrated clear
associations between ambient air pollution concentrations and the adverse
effects on pulmonary morbidity in various occupational groups exposed to air
pollutants. In 2004, a cross-sectional study conducted to estimate the adverse
effects of air pollutants on respiratory outcomes in mail carriers, in Athens.
Since then, changes in environmental conditions along with variations in air
pollutants levels add more information and lead to further investigation in
this occupational group since unclear questions still remain.
Objective: The main aim of the study was to evaluate the long term effects of
ambient air pollution exposure on respiratory outcomes in those mail carries
initially assessed in 2004.
Methods: The follow up study restricted to those mail carries who continued to
deliver mails via a motor vehicle or on foot. Information on respiratory
symptoms, medical, occupational, residential and smoking history was obtained
through a structured questionnaire. A trained medical doctor performed
participants’ flow-volume curves in workplace during the morning shift, using
a portable spirometer and a pulmonary specialist assessed theirs lung function
using all available measurements. A Land Use Regression model was used to
estimate the average personal exposure levels for each participant on basic air
pollutants (NO2, PM10).
Results: Overall 113 people participated to the study of which 90% were men. In
cross-sectional study the effect of NO2 was associated with the cough symptom
(OR:1.04, 95% CI: 0.99-1.10) and chronic cough (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02-1.23).
In follow-up analisis one person developed obstructive pulmonary syndrome
[(FEV1/FVC)% <70%]. For each 10 mg/m3 increase in NO2 were noticed average
decrement in FEV1 levels of 0,05 (95% CI: 0,08-0,01) and average decrement in
forced vital capacity (FVC) of 0,064 (CI: 0,28-0,02) during the two assessment
periods. Exposure to PM10 was not significantly associated with any decrement
in lung function.
Discussion: Our findings suggest that long-term exposure to NO2 pollutant is a
contributor factor for lung function impairment and the occurrence of cough and
chronic cough in mail carriers. More progress in environmental policy can
tackle air pollutants such NO2 and decrease the occupational exposure to many
high risk groups in big cities like Athens.

Air pollution, NO2, PM10, Greece, Occupational exposure

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https://pergamos.lib.uoa.gr/uoa/dl/object/1311140