Estimation of health effects of PM۲.۵ exposure using Air Q model in Isfahan during ۲۰۱۳

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown that outdoor air pollution results in serious adverse health outbreaks such as respiratory and heart problems, lung dysfunction, chronic bronchitis and death. The aim of this study was to estimate the health effects and premature death due to atmospheric PM۲.۵ exposure in the city of Isfahan in ۲۰۱۳. Methods: This study was an ecological study. Annually collected PM۲.۵ data in Ostandari, Khajoo and Eliaderan monitoring stations were obtained from the department of environment and epidemiological data for the study period were attained form the province health center. The World Health Organization (WHO), Air Q ۲.۲.۳ software was used to assess the impacts of PM۲.۵ on population health. Results: The results showed that the highest and lowest concentrations of PM۲.۵ were related to the Ostandari and Khajoo monitoring stations. Mean annual, winter and summer, and ۹۸ percentile of PM۲.۵ concentration, were ۷۶.۶۴, ۸۱.۹۳, ۷۱.۳۷, and ۲۰۴.۳ μg/m۳, respectively. The total number of deaths among the studied population attributed to base incidence was ۶۸۳.۵ per ۱۰۵ people, and the deaths caused by PM۲.۵ exposure, with relative risks of ۱.۰۱۱, ۱.۰۱۵ and ۱.۰۱۹, were ۷۳۳, ۹۷۸ and ۱۲۱۳ persons, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that according to the AirQ software outputs, deaths attributed to PM۲.۵ in Isfahan city was ۸.۱ % of total non-accidental deaths recorded in ۲۰۱۳. The average PM۲.۵ concentration in the winter was higher compared to that in summer, which is due to the occurrence of thermal inversion and increasing use of fossil fuels for home heating. Therefore, controlling measures for reduction of pollutant emissions can considerably reduce the mortality rate.

کلیدواژه ها:

Air pollution ، health effects ، PM۲.۵ ، AirQ