Traffic-related air pollution: Exposure and health effects in copenhagen street cleaners and cemetery workers
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
This questionnaire-based study found a significantly higher prevalence of chronic bronchitis, asthma, and several other symptoms in 116 Copenhagen street cleaners who were exposed to traffic-related air pollution at levels that were slightly lower than the 1987 World Health Organization-recommended threshold values, compared with 115 Copenhagen cemetery workers exposed to lower pollution levels. Logistic regression analysis, controlling for age and smoking, was conducted, and odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to be 2.5 for chronic bronchitis (95% confidence interval = 1.2–5.1), 2.3 for asthma (95% confidence interval = 1.0–5.1), and 1.8–7.9 for other symptoms (95% confidence interval = 1.0–28.2). Except for exposure to air pollution, the two groups were comparable, i.e., they had similar terms of employment and working conditions. The exposure ranges during an 8-h work day, averaged from readings taken at five monitored street positions, were: 41–257 ppb nitric oxide (1-h max: 865 ppb); 23–43 ppb nitrogen dioxide (1-h max: 208 ppb); 1.0–4.3 ppm carbon monoxide (8-h max: 7.1 ppm); 14–28 ppb sulfur dioxide (1-h max: 112 ppb); and 10–38 ppb ozone (1-h max: 72 ppb).
Original language | English |
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Journal | Archives of Environmental Health |
Volume | 50 |
Issue number | 3 |
Pages (from-to) | 207-213 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISSN | 0003-9896 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1995 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:
The study was supported financially by the Municipality of Copenhagen, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, and the private foundation Plums 0kologifond.
ID: 318948681