Journal of Occupational
Health and Epidemiology
Rafsanjan university Of medical sciences
Volume 15, Issue 2 (Spring 2026)
J Occup Health Epidemiol 2026, 15(2): 117-127 |
Back to browse issues page
Ethics code: BIEC – 084 - 24
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Durai V, Selvaraj R, Alagesan I R. Respiratory Health Challenges among Urban Street Vendors: A Mixed-Methods Study in Chennai, India. J Occup Health Epidemiol 2026; 15 (2) :117-127
URL: http://johe.rums.ac.ir/article-1-1141-en.html
URL: http://johe.rums.ac.ir/article-1-1141-en.html
Related article in
Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Similar articles
1- Associate Prof., Dept. of Community Medicine, Bhaarath Medical College and Hospital, BIHER, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
2- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College, SIMATS, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
3- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Community Medicine, Bhaarath Medical College and Hospital, BIHER, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. ,inbaraja92@gmail.com
2- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College, SIMATS, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
3- Assistant Prof., Dept. of Community Medicine, Bhaarath Medical College and Hospital, BIHER, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. ,
Article history
Received: 2025/11/5
Accepted: 2026/07/28
ePublished: 2026/10/11
Accepted: 2026/07/28
ePublished: 2026/10/11
Subject:
Occupational Health
Abstract: (12 Views)
Background: Street vending is a major urban livelihood in India, yet it exposes workers to traffic-related air pollution. Evidence on respiratory risks and lived experiences among Chennai vendors remains limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of respiratory health challenges among Chennai's urban street vendors, as well as to explore their qualitative occupational health experiences.
Materials and Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study was undertaken. The quantitative phase (n=240) employed simple random sampling across Chennai's 10 Talukas, utilizing INSEARCH questionnaire and objective Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) measurements, followed by the qualitative phase comprising two thematically analysed focus group discussions (FGDs) with 17 vendors. Logistic regression was applied for analysis.
Results: Quantitative data indicated a high respiratory burden: 35% of vendors reported at least one respiratory symptom (29.2% allergic rhinitis) and 42.9% had low PEFR (<80% predicted). Significant associations with low PEFR included male sex (OR=1.873, p=0.024), age >35 (OR=1.775, p=0.049), total exposure period >100 exposure units (OR=2.907, p<0.001), and smoking (OR=2.143, p=0.02). Qualitative findings identified a critical disconnect between these clinical risks and vendors' "felt" health priorities, which were dominated by infrastructural neglect (e.g., lack of toilets), musculoskeletal pain, as well as the economic necessity of prioritizing daily income over health.
Conclusion: Urban street vendors in Chennai are facing a significant, measurable respiratory burden linked to occupational exposure. Nevertheless, this is compounded by structural neglect and financial insecurity. Effective interventions should address both the clinical (pollution exposure) and the contextual (basic occupational amenities) barriers to ameliorate health outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Materials and Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study was undertaken. The quantitative phase (n=240) employed simple random sampling across Chennai's 10 Talukas, utilizing INSEARCH questionnaire and objective Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) measurements, followed by the qualitative phase comprising two thematically analysed focus group discussions (FGDs) with 17 vendors. Logistic regression was applied for analysis.
Results: Quantitative data indicated a high respiratory burden: 35% of vendors reported at least one respiratory symptom (29.2% allergic rhinitis) and 42.9% had low PEFR (<80% predicted). Significant associations with low PEFR included male sex (OR=1.873, p=0.024), age >35 (OR=1.775, p=0.049), total exposure period >100 exposure units (OR=2.907, p<0.001), and smoking (OR=2.143, p=0.02). Qualitative findings identified a critical disconnect between these clinical risks and vendors' "felt" health priorities, which were dominated by infrastructural neglect (e.g., lack of toilets), musculoskeletal pain, as well as the economic necessity of prioritizing daily income over health.
Conclusion: Urban street vendors in Chennai are facing a significant, measurable respiratory burden linked to occupational exposure. Nevertheless, this is compounded by structural neglect and financial insecurity. Effective interventions should address both the clinical (pollution exposure) and the contextual (basic occupational amenities) barriers to ameliorate health outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Keywords: Occupational Health [MeSH], Respiratory Tract Diseases [MeSH], Air Pollution [MeSH], Peak Expiratory Flow Rate [MeSH], Occupational Exposure [MeSH], Informal Sector [MeSH], Qualitative Research [MeSH]
References
1. International Labour Organization. India Employment Report 2024: Youth Employment, Education and Skills. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Organization; 2024. [URL]
2. Jha R. Strengthening urban India's informal economy: The case of street vending. ORF Issue Brief. 2023;249:1-7. [URL]
3. Bhowmik SK. Hawkers and the urban informal sector: A study of street vending in seven cities. Manchester, North West England, United Kingdom: Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO); 2001. [URL]
4. Government of India, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation. National Policy on Urban Street Vendors. New Delhi, India: Government of India, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation; 2009. [URL]
5. Kumar S. Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act 2014. A Right Based approach to livelihood. Int Res J Manag Sociol Humanit. 2014;5:167-9.
6. Kongtip P, Thongsuk W, Yoosook W, Chantanakul S. Health effects of metropolitan traffic-related air pollutants on street vendors. Atmos Environ. 2006;40(37):7138-45. [DOI]
7. Ramesh N. Prevalence of respiratory morbidity among shopkeepers in the vicinity of a national highway, Bangalore. Int J Occup Saf Health. 2015;5(1):17-21. [DOI]
8. Chujit W, Wiwatanadate P, Deesomchok A, Sopajaree K, Eldeirawi K, Tsai YI. Air pollution levels related to peak expiratory flow rates among adult asthmatics in Lampang, Thailand. Aerosol Air Qual Res. 2020;20(6):1398-410.
9. IQAir Staff Writers. 2024 IQAir World Air Quality Report. Steinach, Switzerland: IQAir; 2025. [URL]
10. Jindal SK, Aggarwal AN, Gupta D, Agarwal R, Kumar R, Kaur T, et al. Indian study on epidemiology of asthma, respiratory symptoms and chronic bronchitis in adults (INSEARCH). Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2012;16(9):1270-7. [DOI] [PMID]
11. Renjith V, Yesodharan R, Noronha JA, Ladd E, George A. Qualitative methods in health care research. Int J Prev Med. 2021;12:20. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
12. Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3(2):77-101. [DOI]
13. De S, Kushwah GDS, Dharwey D, Shanmugasundaram D. Respiratory morbidity of roadside shopkeepers exposed to traffic-related air pollution in Bhopal, India. J Health Pollut. 2019; 9(21):190305. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
14. Keny G, Pandey AN. Assessment of respiratory morbidities among shopkeepers and vendors in a semi-urban area. J Ecophysiol Occup Health. 2023;23(4):291–8.
15. Chakraborty A, Ghoshal S, Ferdous S, Samuel SA, Mondal R, Ghosh T. Interaction of Body Mass Index and Sex on Pulmonary Function Tests among patients with Chronic Obstructive Respiratory Disease: An Observational study from a Tertiary Centre in India. Int J Kinanthropometry. 2025;5(1):140-53. [DOI]
16. Jain DK, Preetha S, Sridevi G, Pratap L. Assessment of Lung Function Test on Street Vendors of Chennai Region, India. J Pharm Res Int. 2021;33(61B):407-15. [DOI]
17. Juhi A, Pinjar MJ, Malik A, Mondal H. Comparative Evaluation of Pulmonary Function in Male Street Vendors Versus Smokers: Insights into Occupational and Lifestyle Impact. Maedica (Bucur). 2024;19(2):312-6. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
18. Ghosh N, Das B, Das N, Chatterjee S, Debsarkar A, Dutta A, et al. Particulate matter and adverse respiratory health outcome: Exposure of street vendors in Kolkata city in India. Pollution. 2021;7(4):769-85. [DOI]
19. Prabhu V, Gupta SK, Madhwal S, Shridhar V. Exposure to atmospheric particulates and associated respirable deposition dose to street vendors at the residential and commercial sites in Dehradun city. Saf Health Work. 2019;10(2):237-44. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
20. Noomnual S, Shendell DG. Young adult street vendors and adverse respiratory health outcomes in Bangkok, Thailand. Saf Health Work. 2017;8(4):407-9. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
21. Su JG, Vuong V, Shahriary E, Aslebagh S, Yakutis E, Sage E, et al. Health effects of air pollution on respiratory symptoms: A longitudinal study using digital health sensors. Environ Int. 2024; 189:108810. [DOI] [PMID]
22. Gross A, Tham R, Dharmage SC, Röösli M, Frey U, Gorlanova O. Exposure to long-term ambient air pollution and lung function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Respir Rev. 2025;34(176):240264. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
23. Sepadi MM, Nkosi V. Working conditions and respiratory health of informal food vendors´ in Johannesburg, South Africa: a cross-sectional pilot study. PAMJ One Health. 2022;8:8. [DOI]
24. Noomnual S, Shendell DG. Risk of adult street vendor exposure to traffic-related air pollution in Bangkok, Thailand. Hum Ecol Risk Assess. 2017;23(2):340-9. [DOI]
25. Hall JE. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. 14th ed. Philadelphia United States: Elsevier; 2021.
26. Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King Jr TE, Lazarus SC, Sarmiento KF, Schnapp LM, et al, editors. Murray & Nadel's textbook of respiratory medicine e-book. 2-Volume Set. 7th ed. New York, United States: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2021.
27. Moreno-Chaparro J, Guzmán-Suárez OB, Bermúdez-Lugo M, Muñoz-González JS, Sánchez-Avellaneda LA. Analysis of working and health conditions in street vendors of Bogotá, Colombia, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rev Bras Med Trab. 2024;22(3):e20231203. [DOI] [PMCID]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. |
