The University of the Philippines Manila – National Institute of Health’s (UP-NIH) is set to conduct a study meant to determine the connection of chronic traffic exposure to hearing loss.
The institution eyes field personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as key participants in the research.
MMDA officer-in-charge Director Baltazar Melgar said traffic enforcers work under punishing weather conditions, stressing that they are also exposed to health hazards such as traffic noise and air pollution.
“It must be noted that MMDA traffic enforcers, classified as civilian uniformed personnel, are exposed to health hazards while performing their duties,” he said.
The study will be led by Dr. Kim Ong of the UP-NIH and will be assisted by the MMDA Medical Clinic headed by Dr. Annabelle Ombina.
Select field personnel assigned at Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) will undergo the screening process such as hearing test and in-depth interview.
“The screening process is expected to be done in the second week of August. Based on the criteria set by the UP-NIH, traffic enforcers must have a five-year field exposure experience, regardless of their employment status,” Melgar said.
Meanwhile, a recent study conducted by scientist Emmanuel Baja showed that exposure to black carbon and heavy metals while on duty along the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila like EDSA, where hundreds of thousands of vehicles traverse daily, affects traffic enforcers’ blood pressure and lung function.
The study likewise showed that the lead found in the enforcers’ blood could imply systemic inflammation and may also be linked to heart damage.
At present, there are almost 600 traffic enforcers assigned to man traffic along EDSA.