Date:19/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/19/stories/2006061919880400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Traffic police personnel bear the brunt of noise pollution

Dennis Marcus Mathew

Sample survey carried out in city brings startling facts to light

76 per cent of surveyed policemen found to be suffering from noise-induced hearing loss
Expert says the damage is irreversible
The only way out is to wear cotton earplugs

Prolonged exposure to noise pollution can lead to other problems such as irritability and increase in blood pressure

NO ESCAPE FROM DIN: Apart from regulating vehicular movement, traffic policemen have to contend with daily dose of arguments from motorists. - Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: A simple cotton earplug is something that traffic policemen rarely think about. But the same thing, according to recent medical studies, could help them prevent a gradual loss of hearing that is caused by continuous exposure to high noise levels.

A sample survey on effects of noise pollution on traffic policemen in the city, carried out by the Society to Aid the Hearing Impaired (SAHI), revealed that 76 per cent of the 45 cops who were screened had noise-induced hearing loss. Among these, all those who had completed five years in the traffic wing had hearing loss in various degrees.

Tejdeep Kaur's initiative

The revelations have now raised concerns on what the results will be if all the 1,100 traffic cops are checked for their hearing abilities. Inspector-General (Welfare) Tejdeep Kaur Menon, who had asked SAHI to conduct the survey when she was in charge of the traffic wing, is learnt to have asked SAHI to continue the same.

SAHI secretary E.C. Vinay Kumar, who heads the ENT Department at Apollo Hospitals, said the hearing loss discovered among traffic cops was irreversible. "When they are subjected to high intensity noise levels throughout the day, it's natural that such hazards happen. One way to prevent drastic hearing loss is to use earplugs. Though this will not completely block out noise, it can bring down the intensity from 80-95 decibels to 40-50 decibels, which is reasonably harmless," Dr. Kumar told The Hindu .

More studies needed

"More studies have to be carried out to see what are the other possible effects. A survey on all the traffic cops who are on the streets daily will also give an idea about the extent of this damage," he said.

"Their ears get fatigued at the end of the day and need rest. The problem is these men are subjected to noise pollution every day.

This can result in other problems like increase in irritability and rise in blood pressure, just to name two, which in turn can affect general behaviour too," he said.

Now, you know one more reason why traffic cops fume when you break traffic rules.