Other than air pollution, now traffic cops are being affected by deadly combinations of very rare earth metals and some toxic materials like platinum, palladium and rhodium in their bodies.

Special policemen who are working near Secunderabad – Patancheruv are accumulating some significant levels of Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd) and Rhodium (Rh). These metals can be converted or attributed to catalytic converters in automobiles which convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.

Researchers say that each vehicle has these elements in trace amounts which accumulate over a period of time. Journal of Applied Geochemistry publishing’s by C.T. Kamala of EPTRI and others say in high concentrations these elements are found with an average concentration of 6.65 parts per billion (ppb).

“Results of the study have revealed higher concentrations of Pt, Pd, and Rh among these traffic police operating in high-density traffic sensitive zones in comparison to those in industrial and residential areas. In particular among the PGE, platinum accumulation was more,” wrote authors.

Authors considered these variations considered the location of residence beside work location of cops. This further leads to increased blood concentrations of these metals.