Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health, 2017, Vol. 5, No. 3, 104-110 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/jephh/5/3/5 ©Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/jephh-5-3-5 Analysis and Perception of Health Impact of Motor Vehicle Emissions on Traffic Police in Nairobi, Kenya Samson Murangiri Mukaria * , Thuita Thenya, Raphael G Wahome, Kiemo Karatu, Michael Gatari Wangari Maathai Institute, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science University of Nairobi, Kenya *Corresponding author: sammurangi@yahoo.com Abstract Clean air is important for human health and well-being, air pollution has increased in many parts worldwide and thus posing a significant threat people’s health. In Kenya, the traffic police officers who constantly un covered stand on road junctions continuously expose themselves to motor vehicle emissions, greatly risking their health. This study collected qualitative data and quantitative data analysed police person’s perceptions of the health impact of motor vehicle emissions on traffic police in Nairobi, Kenya. The respondents were sampled from among the traffic police officers who normally control traffic in Nairobi CBD. Pretested questionnaires were used to collect data. The study showed that police officers were aware of the effects that the motor vehicle air pollution could have on their health. About 98.1% of respondents indicated that they are affected by motor vehicle pollution. On average, about 30% of the police officers are off duty due to sickness while 82.2% had been greatly affected by exposure to motor vehicle pollution. 58.9% new cases of the health effects related to motor vehicle emission constant though majority did not take any measures. They obtained this knowledge and experience from their colleagues suffering from respiratory diseases; reporting frequent occurrence of health problems thought to arise acquaintance to motor vehicle emissions. The study accomplishes that there is an association between the amounts spent manning traffic and contact to high levels of pollution. The traffic officers have associated illnesses such as respiratory problems, asthma, cancer and other diseases that are pollution related to the high emissions of motor vehicle pollution in the Central business district. Keywords: health effects, traffic police, motor vehicle emission, respiratory diseases Cite This Article: Samson Murangiri Mukaria, Thuita Thenya, Raphael G Wahome, Kiemo Karatu, and Michael Gatari, “Analysis and Perception of Health Impact of Motor Vehicle Emissions on Traffic Police in Nairobi, Kenya.” Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health, vol. 5, no. 3 (2017): 104-110. doi: 10.12691/jephh-5-3-5. 1. Introduction Dominant part of the present vehicles utilize inward combustion engines that consume gas or other petroleum products; and disregard to supplant worn or deteriorated segments by Motorists which result in poor engine performance, higher fuel utilization, motor harm and excess emissions [1,2]. During combustion, various vaporous materials and pollutions are produced. These ignition side-effects are discharged into the environment as fumes gasses. Among the gasses stand nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead and particulate matters that contaminate the atmosphere. It has been affirmed that, in creating nations of the world, vehicular development has been to a great extent unchecked by natural managing bodies making large amounts of contamination [3]. One of the main worries of air contamination is the unfavorable wellbeing it has on wellbeing. Confirmation focuses to air contamination that shoots from transport as an essential supporter of ill health. In Kenya, every person is eligible to a clean and healthy atmosphere and he or she is indebted to enhance it. The entitlement to a clean and healthy environment includes the access by persons in Kenya to the various public elements or segments of the environment for recreational, educational, health, spiritual and cultural purposes [4]. World Health Organization battles that perfect air is a fundamental necessity for human wellbeing and prosperity despite the fact that air contamination keeps on representing a noteworthy risk to wellbeing around the world. As indicated by their appraisal of the weight of ailment because of air contamination, more than two million unexpected losses happening every year can be ascribed to the impacts of urban open air and indoor air contamination caused by the consuming of petroleum products [5]. The greater part of these ailment troubles, specifically respiratory complexities, are borne by the populaces of creating nations Kenya included [5], currently urban air pollution is increasing. The traffic police department’ mandate ensure that drivers on the road comply with the traffic Act and related subsidiary legislations. A majority of the traffic police staff have to spend much of their time on the roads while on duty. In these circumstances therefore, they are exposed to particulate matter and exhaust gases emitted by the vehicles on the road. This situation is worsened during peak hours when the traffic is heavy and more pollutants are released into the ambient air. This may affect their