Arphorn Sara, Ishimaru Tomohiro, Hara Kunio, Mahasandana Suwisa
a Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health , Mahidol University , Bangkok , Thailand.
b Nishinihon Occupational Health Service Center , Kitakyushu , Japan.
J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2018 Feb;68(2):139-145. doi: 10.1080/10962247.2017.1359217. Epub 2018 Jan 16.
The motorcycle taxi drivers of Bangkok have been heavily exposed to high concentrations of PM (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm), and the impact of this on their lungs has been neither documented nor studied. This study examines the association between exposure to PM and lung function decline among motorcycle taxi drivers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bangkok between two groups: a subject group of motorcycle taxi drivers and control group of enclosed vehicle taxi drivers. The findings of the Thailand Pollution Control Department were used to estimate the annual ambient PM concentration levels in the metropolis. Pulmonary functions of motorcycle taxi drivers and enclosed vehicle taxi drivers were measured and compared using the Mann-Whitney test. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to estimate the effects of PM exposure on the lung function of motorcycle taxi drivers. A total of 1283 motorcycle taxi drivers and 600 taxi drivers were investigated. The mean forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/forced vital capacity (FEV/FVC) of the motorcycle taxi drivers was significantly lower than that of the taxi drivers (P < 0.001). The mean FEV/FVC of motorcycle taxi drivers exposed to ≥50 µg/m PM was statistically lower (-2.82%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.54% to -1.09%) and the mean % vital capacity (%VC) of those exposed to 40-49.9 µg/m PM was statistically lower than that of motorcycle taxi drivers exposed to <30 µg/m PM (-3.33%; 95% CI: -5.79% to -0.87%). Motorcycle taxi drivers were directly exposed to air pollution in their working environment. As a result, their lung function might decrease more than that of enclosed vehicle taxi drivers. With the possible exposure to ≥50 µg/m PM, the vehicular emission standards should be vigorously enforced. Further investigation is warranted to clarify the effect of lung dysfunction on the work and lifestyle of motorcycle taxi drivers.
Motorcycle taxi drivers are directly exposed to air pollution in their work environment; therefore, their lung function might decrease more than that of enclosed vehicle taxi drivers, especially when exposed to ≥50 µg/m PM. World Health Organization (WHO) vehicular emission standards should be recognized and eventually enforced.
曼谷的摩的司机长期暴露于高浓度的PM（空气动力学直径≤10μm的颗粒物）环境中，而这对他们肺部的影响此前尚无记录和研究。本研究旨在探讨摩的司机暴露于PM与肺功能下降之间的关联。在曼谷对两组人群进行了一项横断面研究：一组为摩的司机受试者组，另一组为封闭式车辆出租车司机对照组。泰国污染控制部门的调查结果被用于估算该大都市的年度环境PM浓度水平。使用曼-惠特尼检验对摩的司机和封闭式车辆出租车司机的肺功能进行测量和比较。应用多元线性回归分析来估算PM暴露对摩的司机肺功能的影响。总共调查了1283名摩的司机和600名出租车司机。摩的司机的平均第1秒用力呼气量/用力肺活量（FEV/FVC）显著低于出租车司机（P < 0.001）。暴露于≥50μg/m³ PM的摩的司机的平均FEV/FVC在统计学上较低（-2.82%；95%置信区间[CI]：-4.54%至-1.09%），而暴露于40 - 49.9μg/m³ PM的摩的司机的平均肺活量百分比（%VC）在统计学上低于暴露于<30μg/m³ PM的摩的司机（-3.33%；95% CI：-5.79%至-0.87%）。摩的司机在工作环境中直接暴露于空气污染。因此，他们的肺功能可能比封闭式车辆出租车司机下降得更多。在可能暴露于≥50μg/m³ PM的情况下，应大力执行车辆排放标准。有必要进行进一步调查以阐明肺功能障碍对摩的司机工作和生活方式的影响。
摩的司机在工作环境中直接暴露于空气污染；因此，他们的肺功能可能比封闭式车辆出租车司机下降得更多，尤其是在暴露于≥50μg/m³ PM时。应认可并最终执行世界卫生组织（WHO）的车辆排放标准。
