HUBUNGAN DURASI PAPARAN DEBU DENGAN PEAK EXPIRATORY FLOW (PEF) PADA SUKARELAWAN PENGATUR LALU LINTAS (SUPELTAS) DI KECAMATAN LOWOKWARU KOTA MALANG

Background: The development of the transportation sector in Indonesia has increased the number of motor vehicles, which are the main contributors to air pollution, accounting for 66.34% of total pollution. In 2023, Malang City experienced 47 days with unhealthy air quality, with PM2.5 concentrations reaching 101.2 μg/m³. Volunteer traffic controllers (SUPELTAS) are a high-risk occupational group due to direct exposure to dust and air pollution for at least five hours per day. Long-term exposure to particulate matter can cause airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and decreased lung function, which can be measured using Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF). PEF is an important indicator of respiratory function, with normal values ranging from 400–600 L/min in adult males and 300–500 L/min in adult females. Lowokwaru District, characterized by heavy traffic flow and high vehicle emissions due to the presence of multiple large universities, places SUPELTAS in this area at increased risk of impaired lung function.
Methods: This study employed a correlational analytic design with a cross-sectional approach and was conducted in Lowokwaru District, Malang City, in September 2025. The sample was selected using a total sampling method, involving 30 respondents. Data on participant characteristics and duration of dust exposure were collected using a questionnaire, while Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) values were measured using a spirometer.
Results: The results of the Spearman Rho test showed a p-value of 0.885 (p > 0.05) with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.027, indicating no significant association between the duration of dust exposure and Peak Expiratory Flow values among SUPELTAS in Lowokwaru District, Malang City.
Conclusion: It was concluded that there is no association between the duration of dust exposure and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) values among SUPELTAS in Lowokwaru District, Malang City. Factors such as productive age, sex, relatively short duration of employment, and the possible use of personal protective equipment contribute to maintaining lung function within normal limits. These findings indicate that individual physiological characteristics and personal protective measures play a more dominant role in preserving lung function capacity than the duration of daily dust exposure.