After studies conducted on 1,735 traffic policemen last year showed alarming levels of lead in their blood — above 10 micrograms per decilitre when the normal limit is 5 micrograms per decilitre — Anti-Pollution Drive Foundation, a non-profit organisation, has decide to study the effect of air pollution on cops.
Having completed a similar study in Mangaluru, the organisation will focus on understanding how air pollution has impacted the lungs of the city’s traffic policemen.
“The aim is to cover at least 80 per cent of the 3,000 traffic policemen in Bengaluru in the study. Among other things, a Pulmonary Function Test will be administered to check how the lungs are affected,” said Abdullah A. Rehman, chairperson of the Anti-Pollution Drive Foundation.
Study in Mangaluru
In Mangaluru, the study showed that 22.3 per cent of policemen who had less than five years of service were showing signs of restrictive lungs. The staff strength in the coastal city is significantly lesser (around 200) than in Bengaluru.
“There are no recent studies on the impact of air pollution on our traffic policemen. We have given the foundation permission to approach policemen and conduct their study without it affecting their daily duties. The results will show us what steps we can take to improve the health of our police personnel,” said R. Hitendra, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
Necessary measures
The submission of the report will be followed by a medical intervention where required as well as mitigating measures such as the distribution of masks to provide a better work environment for the city’s traffic police will be implemented.
The air quality index rating as on July 16 was 34.
Worst spots
AMCO battery junction, Mysuru Road
Graphite India junction
Silk Board junction, Hosur Road
Victoria Hospital
Whitefield
