A Study to assess the prevalence of Respiratory Morbidity among Petrol Filling Station Employees in New Delhi, India

Abstract

Good quality natural environment provides basic needs, in terms of clean air and water, fertile land for food production,and energy and material inputs for production. Human health and well-being are intimately linked to the state of theenvironment. Though several types of environments exist, it is the physical environment which plays an important bearingon health. Occupational environment plays a major role on the health of those exposed to pollutants. The objectives ofthe study were to:(1) assess the prevalence of respiratory morbidity among petrol filling station employees (2) determinethe association between respiratory morbidity among employees with selected demographic and occupational variables.The study was conducted among 40 petrol filling station employees at New Delhi. The study revealed significantassociation between phlegm with locality (p<0.05), breathlessness with age in years (p<0.001), chest illness with agein years, employment status, exposure to type of pollutant and number of working days per week (p<0.05). The studyfound adverse effects of workplace exposures on respiratory health and development of respiratory morbidity symptomsamong petrol filling station employees.