The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and impariments of ventilatory capacity were stuidied in a group of 74 taxi drivers in Inchon area. As a reference group, 94 office workers of same area, matched with cigarette smoking, were also included in
this
study. Taxi drivers complained of respiratory symptoms much more than reference group. Those were cough, sputum production, chest tightness and shortness of breath. The ventilatory capacities, FVC (forced vital capacity), FEV1.0(forced expiratory
volume
1 second). MMF (maximal mid flow) and PFR (peak flow rate), were measured. All measured values of ventilatory capacities of taxi driver were significantly decreased than those of reference group. The rate (56.8%) of ventilatory capacity
impairment
in
taxi drivers was significantly larger than those (14.9%) of reference group, and the most of them were restrictive type impairments, Also Job variable, professional driver or not. was selected as important determinant for ventilatory capacity
impairment
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