Air pollution spoiling health of traffic cops in Mangaluru, confirms test

[email protected] (CD Network)
May 9, 2016

Mangaluru, May 9: The pulmonary function test (PFT) conducted on the traffic police by the Anti-Pollution Drive (APD) Foundation has showed a significant correlation in lung functions and exposure to vehicular pollutants.

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According to the results of the test and the subsequent study, reduction in air pollution can reduce the number of traffic police falling prey to restrictive lung disease. Reduction in exposure by use of protective gears like pollution mask and reduction in the duration of exposure in a day would also help in improving their lung function. Monitoring vehicles, which are on roads for over 10 years for pollution, would also help in minimising the level of pollution, the foundation said in a press release.

The PFT by computerised spirometer, measuring FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR, and FEF25-75 per cent, was measured by pulmonologists from the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Yenepoya Medical College.

The test showed that significant number of traffic personnel have affected lungs. The results indicated that 22.3 per cent of the policemen having five and less than five years of service are showing signs of restrictive lungs. About 26.3 per cent policemen, having more than five years' experience, are showing restrictive lung capacity.

The Foundation which has germinated from this city has observed that Mangaluru is one of the rapidly growing cities in the country and the growth is associated with an enormous increase in vehicular traffic emitting exhausts and polluting the atmosphere. Airborne dust plays a major part in the overall atmospheric pollution and motor vehicle emissions are the most significant sources of pollution in an urban environment. Road traffic produces volatile organic compounds, suspended particulate matter, oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, and carbon monoxide which makes adverse health effects on the exposed population, it said.

It said the traffic-related air pollution is a day-to-day health hazard to individuals who commute to offices, school and colleges. Several students use the public transportation or the transportation provided by the educational institutes and they are exposed to hazardous toxins in the air. Schoolchildren, who are exposed to pollution at a tender age, develop health hazards is their respiratory system due to automobile exhaust. Every year, the percentage of asthmatic children is increasing in urban areas. Vehicular pollution is the sole pollution contributing elements in a large scale within city limits affecting residents, school students and officer goers.

APD?Foundation Founder Abdullah A Rehman said observing respiratory complaints among the retired traffic police would help in studying the long-term effects of the occupation. Through PFT results, APD further wants to study the health impacts of pollution in Mangaluru and related issues.

He added, “The foundation will be able to identify the impact on the most-affected group based on the PFT results. We will then identify the location and area that they are working and start monitoring the pollution levels in these areas. We will also use this information to work towards categorical mitigation.”

ACP (Traffic) Uday Nayak said the tests conducted by the foundation have helped the police a lot. “It is good to know the health condition of the police, especially the traffic police personnel,” he said and added that the hospitals have offered to provide free treatment to the affected police personnel.

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Comments

Swetha
 - 
Monday, 9 May 2016

really sad to see traffic police in this heavy heat climate.

Priyanka
 - 
Monday, 9 May 2016

my father is working in police department, i m very much worried about his health.

Saleem
 - 
Monday, 9 May 2016

really effecting health of traffic police, must wear musk all the time while on duty.

Manikanta
 - 
Monday, 9 May 2016

yahh rain, air pollution, heat make them sick.

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News Network
January 13,2020

Ballari, Jan 13: Police on Monday arrested more than 30 Congress activists, including Congress MLA B Z Zameer Ahmad, who were on the way to Ballari to stage a dharna in front of MLA G Somashekhar Reddy's residence after he delivered hate speech during a pro-CAA demonstration a week ago.

Ballari Superintendent of Police SP C K Baba said that Congress MLA B Z Zameer Ahmed has not been granted permission to stage a dharna in front of the Bellary MLA’s residence.

Zameer Ahmed had asked the police to arrest Mr Reddy after he delivered a provocative speech or he will stage a dharna in front of the later's house.

SP said, “Investigations into the complaints pertaining to the provocative speech by Bellary City MLA G Somashekar Reddy is underway. In-charge Dy SP Maheshwara Gouda has taken statements of the complainants and others related to the case. A charge sheet on the same will be submitted to the court soon."

Reddy has been booked for making a provocative speech during a pro-CAA protest here in Ballari last week in which he said that Hindus outnumbered Muslims.

Following the incident police provided high police security to the MLA house and sensitive area in the city.

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News Network
February 9,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 9: Senior JD(S) leader and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda has called upon all the regional parties and secular parties to join hands with the Congress and work in tandem to take on the BJP.

Noting that mere speeches would not help, he said the regional and secular parties should enhance their strength politically in the country.

"We all need to join together with Congress and work in tandem with the available strength only then will we be able to stop them (the BJP)," the JD(S) supremo said at a public meeting organised by the party in Hassan district on Saturday.

Gowda cautioned the regional and secular parties against sitting idle watching the developments in the country.

"If the small and regional parties do not exercise the powers given by Dr B R Ambedkar to the country, they (BJP) are going to the extent of finishing them up," he said. Interestingly, the JD(S) patriarch, had in the run-up to the December bypolls to Karnataka assembly said he would not align with the Congress and dubbed it as "not trustworthy."

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News Network
June 23,2020

Bengaluru, June 23: A frustrated chartered accountant has committed suicide after killing his wife and mother-in-law in two different cities of India.

The murder-murder-suicide came amid acrimonious divorce proceedings that might have also involved a property dispute, police said.

Amit flew to Bengaluru last weekend to kill his estranged wife at her Whitefield residence before returning to Kolkata, where he shot dead his mother-in-law and then killed himself at an upscale residential complex in North Kolkata on Monday evening.

Amit and his wife Shilpi Agarwal, who is also a CA, had been living separately since last the two years after their marriage turned sour.

Amit took his 10-year-old son from Bengaluru with him on Monday and dropped him at his uncle’s house before heading to his in-laws’ place Phoolbagan, police said.

Neighbours told cops they heard arguments “appeared to be” over some property documents that Amit wanted his in-laws — 70-year-old Subhas and 62-year-old Lalita Dhandhania — to sign.

The first gunshot was heard a little before 6.30pm, following which Subhas ran out of his flat, bolted the door from outside and took refuge inside his next-door neighbour’s apartment. Police arrived a few minutes later to find Amit and his mother-in-law dead. Police found a suicide note from the flat.

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