Occupational Medicine Vol. 54 No. 7 © Society
of Occupational Medicine 2004; all rights reserved
Respiratory and cardiovascular function at rest and during exercise testing in a healthy working population: effects of outdoor traffic air pollution
1 Surgical Department, University of Rome ‘La
Sapienza’, Rome Italy.
2 Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome
‘La Sapienza’, Rome Italy.
3 Cardiovascular and Respiratory Department, Clinical Medicine
Department, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Rome Italy.
4 Center For Aeromedical Evaluation and Occupational Medicine,
IML, ITAF, Rome, Italy.
Background
There is controversy regarding long-term adverse effects of urban pollutants in urban workers.
Aim
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of urban pollutants on respiratory and cardiovascular function in exposed traffic policemen compared to a control group.
Methods
Sixty-eight traffic policemen and 62 controls (all male) were investigated at rest and during symptom-limited incremental exercise test (performed with a cycle ergometer). The data were statistically evaluated.
Results
There were no significant differences in the mean values of resting ventilatory capacity, the forced spirometric test, or in blood gas parameters between the groups. The traffic exposed group demonstrated a number of significant changes in cardiorespiratory measures on exercise testing. Twenty-six traffic policemen and none of the controls experienced exercise-induced ECG abnormalities, hypertension or oxyhaemoglobin desaturation; 80% of the 26 had resting PaO2 values <80 mmHg.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that chronic occupational exposure to urban pollutants reduces resistance to physical effort and increases the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory changes including slight hypoxemia.
Keywords Air pollution; cardiovascular and respiratory function; exercise testing; outdoor; traffic policemen
Received 20 May 2003
Revised 9 February 2004
Accepted 15 June 2004
Correspondence to: Prof. Francesco Tomei, Via Monte delle Gioie No. 13, 00199 Rome, Italy. Tel: +390686203350, +390649912541; fax: +390686203178, +390649912554; e-mail: francesco.tomei{at}uniroma1.it
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