Awareness of Air Pollution and Related Health Risk in Traffic Police of Pune City-A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective Urbanisation is causing increase in air pollution. Exposure to air pollution has become inevitable and seem to be integral part of daily life. Few people like traffic police are exposed to air pollution for longer duration due to their type of job. Hence, they are more vulnerable to health hazards caused by air pollution. Awareness about air pollution and health hazards caused by it will help to plan preventive measures. Therefore, present study is planned to find out awareness of air pollution and related health risk in traffic police of Pune city. Method The questionnaire including questions about awareness of air pollution, associated symptoms and self-preventive measures against air pollution was constructed. The questionnaire was filled by the traffic policemen. Results Perception of air pollution is better in participants. 94% participants know that air pollution causes health hazard. 76% subjects take self-preventive measures. Participants were also having better knowledge of causes of air pollution. Only 20% participants had knowledge about air pollution monitoring system installed in city. Conclusion Traffic police of Pune city have good awareness regarding causes and levels of air pollution. Also, they know about health hazards due to air pollution and most of them take care in form of mask to avoid exposure to it. But they have got poor knowledge about air pollution monitoring system installed in city.