Korean J Occup Environ Med.  1994 Feb;6(1):134-142.

Respiratory Symptoms and Ventilatory Function Impairment of Taxi Drivers

• Leem JH
• Rho J
• Lee KJ
• Yuhn MJ
• Moon YH

Abstract

The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and impairments of ventilatory capacity were studied in a group of 74 taxi drivers in Inchon area. As a reference group, 94 office workers of same area, matched with cigarette smoking, were also included in this study. Taxi drivers complained of respiratory symptoms much more than reference group. Those were cough, sputum production, chest tightness and shortness of breath. The ventilatory capacities, FVC (forced vital capacity), FEV(1.0) (forced expiratory volume 1 second), MMF (maximal mid flow) and PFR (peak flow rate), were measured. All measured values of ventilatory capacities of taxi driver were significantly decreased than those of reference group. The rate (56.8%) of ventilatory capacity impairment in taxi drivers was significantly larger than those (14.9%) of reference group, and the most of them were restrictive type impairments. Also, Job variable, prefessional driver or not, was selected as important determinant for ventilatory capacity impairment.

Keyword

Taxi driver; Respiratory symptom; Ventilatory capacity

MeSH Terms

Cough
Dyspnea
Incheon
Prevalence
Smoking
Sputum
Thorax