A Study on the Impact of Air Pollution on Health Status of Traffic Police Personnel in Kolkata, India

Abstract

The global concern of escalating ambient air pollution and its profound impact on human health is paramount. While traffic police personnel are critical for maintaining the road safety and transportation system of any city in India, they are susceptible to occupational health risks due to ambient air pollution. This study investigated health challenges faced by traffic police personnel due to prolonged exposure to air pollutants prevalent in traffic-congested areas, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The first phase of this study collected and analyzed secondary air quality data over five years (2019–2023) across six locations in Kolkata, India. The second phase employed a questionnaire-based survey to assess the health implications of air pollution exposure. The survey questionnaire captured information on physical health symptoms, stress-related indicators, lifestyle habits, and work hours of around 100 police personnel from Kolkata with indoor (control group) and outdoor (exposed group) work responsibilities. The results of this study established a strong positive correlation between air pollution and a range of health issues experienced by the exposed group. The outcome of this study is significant for urban planning, policy formulation, and public health interventions geared toward minimizing the adverse impacts of air pollution on traffic police personnel.