Effects of working and residential location areas on air pollution related respiratory symptoms in policemen and their wives in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Factors, including air pollution, influencing the prevalence of respiratory symptoms were investigated in a cross-sectional study in policemen and their wives (530 couples) in Bangkok. Information on respiratory symptoms was obtained using the American Thoracic Society Division of Lung Diseases (ATS-DLD) questionnaire. Effects of working and residential locations were evaluated using a multiple logistic model adjusted for several potential confounding factors. In the policemen the increased risk of frequentcough or phlegm was related to smoking (OR=2.19, 95% CI: 1.47-3.26) and working in heavy traffic locations (OR=1.27, CI: 1.01-1.61), whereas in their wives it was related to their residential locations (OR=1.53, CI: 1.10-2.13).