Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Open Access
Subscription or Fee Access
Respiratory Symptoms and Pattern of Lung Functions Among Commercial Motorcyclists in Sagamu, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: The relationship between occupational exposure to air pollutants and poor respiratory health is known. The motorcyclists commonly seek medical care for respiratory diseases in Nigeria.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and the pattern of lung functions among commercial motorcyclists compared to control subjects.
Method: The controlled cross-sectional study was conducted in Sagamu, an urban town in south-western, Nigeria. The commercial motorcyclists and the controls with similar age, non-smokers and same male sex were included in the study. The riders and controls recruited were non-smokers. A structured questionnaire approved by the British Medical Research Council/ATS (American Thoracic Society) was used. The pulmonary function tests were performed according to ATS recommendation.
Results: A total of 200 subjects were studied: 100 were commercial motorcyclists and 100 were non-motorcyclist controls. Compared with the controls, the prevalence of cough (71% vs 21%) and sputum (67% vs 20%) was higher among the commercial motorcyclists. Twenty-one percent of the commercial motorcyclists had an obstructive ventilatory pattern compared to 13% of the control group.
Conclusion: This study provides further evidence that commercial motorcyclists are exposed to occupational hazards which predisposed them to increased frequency of respiratory symptoms and impaired lung functions. Health education strategy may assist this group of workers and reduce the burden of respiratory disorders among them.
Keywords
References
The New Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. 15th Edition, Chicago. 1993. 8; 367.
Kraus JF, Riggins RS, Franti CE. Some epidemiological features of motorcycle collision injuries. Am J Epid 1975; 102(1): 74-113.
Oluwadiya KS. Pattern of limb injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents in Ife/Ilesa, Osun State,Nigeria. FMCS dissertation, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, May 2001.
Aniekan UE. Motorcycle accidents and lower limb bone injuries: The Calabar experience. FMCS dissertation, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, May1990.
Rojas - Rueda D, De Nazzelle A, Tainio M, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ. The health risk and benefits of cycling in urban environments compared with car use: health impact assessment study. BMJ 2011; 343: d45l.
Efe SI. Particulate pollution and its health implication in Warri metropolis, Delta State, Nigeria. Environ Anal 2006; 11: 14339-SI.
Ekpeyoung CE, Ettenbong EO, Akpan EE, Samson TK, Daniel NE. Urban City transportation mode and respiratory effect of air pollution: a cross-sectional study among transit and non -transit workers in Nigeria. BMJ Open 2012; 2(5).
Nku CO, Peter EJ, Eshiet AI, Oku O, Osim EE. Lung function, oxygen saturation and symptoms among street sweepers in Calabar - Nigeria. Niger J Physiological Science 2005; 20: 79 - 84
Pope CA III, Bates DV, Raizenne ME. Health effects of particulate air pollution, Time for Reassessment? Environ Health Persp 1995; 10: 472-480.
Efe SI. Spatial distribution of particulate air pollution in Nigerian cities: Implications for human health. J Environ Health Res (JEHR) 2008; 7: (2) [www.cieh.org/jehr/jehr2column.aspx?id=14688].
World Health Organisation. WHO strategy for prevention and control of chronic respiratory diseases. Geneva, WorldHealthOrganization. 2002. Available at http://www.who.int/respiratory/pusblications/who_MNC_CRA_02.1PDF accessed 19/03/2012.
Adeyeye OO, Adekoya AO, Kuyinu Y, Ogunleye A. Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary functions of Hairdressers in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. www.ejarr.com/Jan2013/vol.16/EJBS_6_07.pdf.
Adefuye BO, Adefuye PO, Odusan O. Respiratory symptoms and Lung Function of Hairdressers in Sagamu, Nigeria. International Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Research 2012; 5(1-2): 89-95.
Tomas ML, Amund G, Eide GE, Gulsvik A, Bakke PS. Occupational airborne exposure and the incidence of respiratory symptoms and asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2002; 166: 933–938.
Nandasena YL, Wickremasinghe AR, Sathiakumar N. Air pollution and health in Sri Lanka: a review of epidemiologic studies. BMC Public Health 2010; 10: 300.
Urom SE, Antai AB, Sim EE. Symptoms and Lung Function Values in Nigerian men and women exposed to dust fermented from crushing of granite rocks in Calabar, Nigeria. Niger J Physiol Sci 2004; 19(1-2): 41-44.
Ferris BG. Epidemiology Standardization Project (American Thoracic Society. Am Rev Respir Dis 1978; 118: 1-120.
Hnizdo E, Churchyard G. Dowdesuel Equations derived from healthy South African Gold Miners. Occupational Environ Med 2000 57: 698-705.
Global strategy for the diagnosis, management and prevention of COPD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Disease (GOLD), 2008. Available from http://www.goldcopd.org
The National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. National Clinical guidelines on the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in adults in primary and secondary care. Thorax 2004; 59(Suppl 1): 1–232
Obot JU, Etim EE, Atser J. Intra-urban traffic and parking demand in Uyo Urban Area. Global J Soc Sci 2009; 8: 61–68.
Pope CA III, Burnet RT, Thun MJ, Calle EE, Krewski D, Ito K, et al. Lung Cancer Cardiopulmonary Mortality and long term exposure to fire particulate air pollution. JAMA 2002; 287: 1132 - 1141.
Krewnski D, Jerret M, Burnett RT, Ma R, Hughes E, Shi Y et al. Extended follow-up and spatial analysis of the American Cancer Society Study linking particulate air pollution mortality. Health Effect Institute. Boston MA. 2009.
Laden F, Neas LM, Dockery DW, Schwartz J. Association of fine particle matter from different sources with daily mortality in six US cities. Environ Health Perspective 2000; 108: 941 -947.
Wichmann H, Spix C, Tuch T, Woike G, Peters A, Heinrich J, et al. Daily Mortality and fine and ultrafine particles in Erfurt, Germany. Health effects Institute, 2000.
Gupta S, Mittel S, Kumar A, Singh KD. Respiratory effects of air pollutants among non-smoking traffic policemen of Patidla, India. Lung India 2011; 28: 253-257
Ogunsola OJ, Oluwole AF, Asubojo OL, Durosimi MA, Fatusi AO, Ruck W. Environmental Impact of Vehicular traffic in Nigeria: health aspects. Sci Totel Environ 1994; 146 (7): 111-116.
WHO. Air Quality Guidelines Global Update 2005: Report on a working meeting. Bonn, Germany.18th-20th October. World Health Organization 2004.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2016 Annals of Health Research
A publication of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, (OOUTH) Sagamu Branch, Nigeria