Cytogenetic study of traf c policemen occupationally exposed to vehicle Exhaust in Erbil City/ Iraqi Kurd- istan Region

Abstract

Police personnel play a pivotal role in any society by ensuring security and stability. They constitute a special occupational group with exposure to violence at their work, which directly and indirectly affects their health. The rst aim of this study was to assess the cytogenetic effects of urban air pollution by analyzing the chromosomal aberration frequencies and mitotic index in peripheral blood lymphocytes of traf c policemen in Erbil city. The present study was carried out on 40 traf c policemen who were worked in different streets in Erbil city included four main streets (30, 40 , 60 and 100) Meter streets so many factors were studied included smoking habit and duration of work ( less than ve years and more than ve years) and 20 controls at differ- ent age groups range between (22-50) years. The second objective of the present study is to know the common health problems among traf c policemen in Erbil city. The results suggest that there were a signi cant increase in the chromosomal aberrations included (Dicentric chromosome, chromatid gap, centromeric break and centromeric gap) in traf c policemen when compared to the controls but signi cant decreases in mitotic index were shown. The highest value of chromosomal aberrations was centro- meric gap and lowest value of mitotic index were both founded in traf c policemen who were worked at 100 Meter street with duration of exposure for more than ve years and who were smoker. Also the results suggested different health problems among traf c policemen included (respiratory, skin, eye ,neurologic and infertility problems). Most policemen with health problems are suffering from respiratory, eye and neurologic problems while fewer of them are suffering from infertility problems.