Author/Authors :
Ebrahimi، Jamal Aldin نويسنده 1Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Air Pollution Control, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran , , Ebrahimzadeh، Leila نويسنده 1Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Air Pollution Control, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran , , Eslami، Akbar نويسنده Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Bidarpoor، Farzam نويسنده MPH, Kurdistan Province Health Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran ,
Abstract :
Background: In recent years, increasing dust storms from western neighboring countries of Iran influenced western
and central parts of the country. In this case, level of concentration of atmospheric particulate matter greater than
10 ?m (PM10) remained higher for several days compared to the levels before the event. Accordingly, Suspended
particulate matters of dust storms in western Iran have caused PM10 pollution in Sanandaj (capital of the Iranian
province of Kurdistan) and other Iranian cities. The present study aimed to evaluate possible effects of dust storms
on incidence of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases among residents of Sanandaj.
Materials and methods: Dust storm events defined based on the Environmental Protection Administration and
Meteorological Announcements, 21 March 2009 to 21 June 2010. Data related to the dust events associated with
cardiovascular and respiratory diseases were obtained from the Center for Disaster and Emergency Medicine of
Sanandaj, Iran. PM10 concentration and air quality data were obtained from air quality monitoring agency of
Kurdistan Provincial Directorate of Environment Protection. Daily PM10 measurements were performed automatically
according to B-ray absorption. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS and Pearsonʹs correlation coefficient. Also,
linear regression model was used to investigate the relationship between variables.
Results: The average PM10 levels during dust episodes (187 ?g/m3) were significantly higher than the other days
(48.7 ?g/m3). In addition, correlation coefficient between PM10 level and number of cardiovascular and emergency
service during dust events were equal to 0.48 (P < 0.05) and 0.19 (P > 0.05) respectively.
Conclusion: Our findings showed significant increase in emergency admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory
diseases during dust storms episode in Sanandaj. Although correlation between respiratory diseases and dust storm
events were statistically insignificant (0.19), numbers of cardiovascular diseases were significantly correlated with
dust storm events (0.48).
