Troopers in in-vehicle pollutant study. (Focus).

On 20 August 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the launch of a new study to measure air pollutant exposures and evaluate subsequent health effects among North Carolina highway patrol troopers. According to the EPA, patrol troopers can spend as much as nine hours driving each day, or six times more than the average American. That's ample time to be exposed to high concentrations of toxic air pollutants resulting from fuel combustion, including ozone, fine particulate matter, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

These pollutants have been associated with a variety of health problems including respiratory dysfunction, exacerbation of asthma symptoms, headache, dizziness, and nausea. Particulate matter has also been shown to affect lung function and heart rate variability, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons include some known carcinogens.

The study should help scientists better understand the extent of the air pollutant exposures that people face while riding in vehicles and the immediate health effects of these exposures. The study will also shed light on the potential occupational risk to patrol troopers.

Over the course of six weeks, patrol cars will be equipped with air quality monitors to track which pollutants are coming into patrol car cabins and in what amounts. Scientists will also monitor 12 troopers on normal duty to determine lung function, heart rate variability, and other factors before, during, and after the work shift.

The study being conducted by the EPA National Exposure Research Laboratory and National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, both in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The project is a collaboration between the EPA, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hills. Results should be available in January 2002.