Traffic Cops In China Have Average Life Expectancy Of 43 Years - Guardian

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BEIJING, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Chinese city traffic police have an average life expectancy of just 43 years because of the dire working conditions and pollution, state media said on Tuesday. And nearly every traffic policeman in the booming southern Chinese city of Guangzhou suffered nose or throat infections caused by dirty air.

Xinhua news agency said a survey of eight cities found that police officers who had worked the streets for more than 20 years were the most at risk.

Pollution was the chief culprit, but stress, traffic noise and standing long periods in the sun were also to blame.

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Guangzhou, with a population of about 10 million, is home to 1.8 million cars and other vehicles, and the number is increasing by 16 percent annually, according to the government Web site (www.gd.gov.cn). Some 150,000 new vehicle licences were approved in the city each year, and more than 3,000 traffic police need to work surrounded by them, the China Daily said.

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