Study of Platelet Aggregability and Prothrombin Time in Auto Rickshaw Drivers

Background: Air pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone in developed and developing countries, like urban India. In urban city like Pune, with the increase in population there is increase in vehicular traffic leading to increased air pollution mainly due to diesel exhaust. Increase in air pollution causes change in hemostatic function leading to increased incidence of coronary thrombosis which is the precipitating factor for myocardial infarction. Platelet aggregability is an important index of cardiovascular health. Therefore, platelet aggregability and prothrombin time were selected as parameters for the present study. Auto rickshaw drivers are chronically exposed to vehicular air pollution, so they were selected as study population.

Objectives: To study whether increase in platelet aggregability or alteration in prothombin time in auto rickshaw drivers is due to air pollution.

Method and Material: 30 auto-rickshaw drivers chronically (more than 5 years) exposed to air pollution in Pune were selected as study group after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Also, control group of 30 who were exposed to air pollution for less than 30 min per day were selected after matching age, sex and BMI. Platelet aggregability and prothrombin time were measured for both the groups.Data was analysed statistically by using unpaired 't' test.

Results and Conclusions: It was observed that platelet aggregability was significantly increased in the study group as compared to the control group. However, no statistical significance was noted in the case of prothrombin time. This study concludes that probably exposure to air pollution alters haemostatic function as platelet aggregability altered significantly.