Total number of deaths and respiratory mortality attributed to particulate matter (PM 10 ) in Ahvaz, Iran during 2009

Abstract

Aims: This study was conducted to assess health-effects of exposure particulate matter (PM 10 ) in Ahvaz city (located in South-Western Iran), during 2009. Materials and Methods: The adverse health effects of PM 10 were calculated by relative risk (RR) and baseline incidence related to health end point PM 10 . A specialized model, the air quality health impact assessment tool (AirQ2.2.3), was used to assess the potential impacts of PM 10 exposure on human health in Ahvaz city during 2009. PM 10 data was taken from Ahvaz Department of Environment. These data were in volumetric base. Health effects are being related to the mass of pollutants inhaled and should convert on the gravimetric basis. Conversion between volumetric and gravimetric units (correction of temperature and pressure), coding, processing (averaging), and filtering are implemented for solving such problem. Results: The results revealed that approximately 3% of total numbers of deaths and respiratory mortality happened when the PM 10 concentration was over 50 μg/m 3 . Sum of total number of deaths attributed to PM 10 was 1165 cases in 2009. Based on the results of this study, 13% of all respiratory mortality were attributed to PM 10 concentration over 20 μg/m 3 in Ahvaz city during 2009. High percentage of the observed health endpoints was associated with a high concentration of measured PM 10 . Conclusion: Year comparison of PM 10 concentration with standard was revealed particle matter concentration in summer and winter season were higher than standard. Although total mean of particle matter was higher than the standard concentration. The higher percentage of deaths perhaps could be the result of higher average PM 10 or because of sustained high concentration days in Ahvaz.

Keywords

• Baseline incidence
• health effects
• relative risk
• respiratory mortality