Author/Authors :
Fouladi Fard, Reza Research Centre for Environmental Pollutants - Department of Environmental Health Engineering - School of Health - Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom , Dordshaikh Torkamani, Fazileh Department of Environmental Health Engineering - School of Health - Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom , Mahvi, Amir Hossein Department of Environmental Health Engineering - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Fahiminia, Mohammad Research Centre for Environmental Pollutants - Department of Environmental Health Engineering - School of Health - Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom , Koolivand, Ali Department of Environmental Health Engineering - School of Health - Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak , Hosseini, Mohammad Reza Department of Environmental Health Engineering - School of Health - Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom , Eshrati, Babak Department of Social Medicine - School of Medicine - Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Fiore, Maria Department of Medical - Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia” - University of Catania, Catania, Italy , Omidi Oskouei, Alireza Department of Public Health - School of Health - Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom , Rezaei, Nayereh Department of Environmental Health Engineering - School of Health - Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom
Abstract :
Introduction: Particulate Matter (PM), also known as aerosol, is the sum
of all particles suspended in droplets floating in the air, which can have
harmful impacts on humans all over the world. This cross-sectional study
set out to evaluate the potential health effects of over-exposure to PM10 and
PM2.5 on aggravating mortality and hospitalization due to cardiovascular and
respiratory diseases among Arak citizens.
Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional survey, AirQ+ model was
used to estimate the health impacts of two particulate air pollutants (PM10 and
PM2.5) based on Relative Risk (RR), and Baseline Incidence (BI) obtained
from reference documents.
Results: According to the calculations, the attributable proportion percentage
(AP%) and attributable excess cases (persons) for total mortality from PM10
were 3.3% (95% CI, 2.8%-3.8%) in 2014 vs. 4.9% (95% CI, 4.1%-5.6%) in
2015 and 99 persons in 2014 vs. 148 persons in 2015, respectively. Likewise,
the AP (%) and the number of excess cases (persons) calculated for total
mortality from PM2.5 were 3.3% (95% CI, 2.6%-4.1%) in 2014 vs. 1.1%
(95% CI, 0.8%-1.3%) in 2015 and 99 persons in 2014 vs. 33 persons in 2015,
respectively.
Conclusion: In this study, it was found that dominant west winds could
increase the particle matters produced from power plants, petrochemical
plants, and western dust storm, leading to a surge in the mortality and
morbidity related to particulate air pollutants in Arak.
Keywords :
Air pollution , Particulate matter (PM) , Mortality , Morbidity , Arak
