Estimation of Mortality and Hospital Admissions Attributed to Criteria Air Pollutants in Tehran Metropolis, Iran (2013-2016)

Abstract

Health impact assessments are useful for governmental authorities and decision-makers to determine the need for action and address potential public health problems arising from exposure to air pollution. The present study was conducted to assess the short-term health impacts of ambient air pollution in Tehran using the AirQ 2.2.3 model for March 2013-March 2016. Hourly concentrations of PM 10 , PM 2.5 , O 3 , NO 2 and SO 2 were acquired from the Department of Environment (DOE) and Tehran Air Quality Control Company (TAQCC). Air pollution data was validated according to the USEPA criteria, and only valid monitoring stations for each of the three years were entered to the AirQ 2.2.3 model. The pollutant concentrations were lower in the March 2015-March 2016 period compared to the previous years. The three-year average (± standard deviation) of PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations were 80.21 (± 34.21) and 39.17 (± 17.26) µg m -3 , respectively. The three-year averages (± standard deviation) for ozone (O 3 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), and sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) were 54.88 (± 24.15), 103.97 (± 25.88) and 39.84 (± 11.17) µg m -3 , respectively. The total estimated number of deaths attributed to PM 10 , PM 2.5 , O 3 , NO 2 and SO 2 over these three years were 4192, 4336, 1363, 2830, and 1216, respectively. The health impacts attributed to all pollutants except for PM 10 were estimated to decrease in 2016, compared to the prior years. However, the air quality in Tehran still poses significant risks to public health. In conclusion, urgent efforts are needed such as mandating the replacing of old and poorly functioning vehicles from the roadways in order to reduce the health burden that air pollution is currently imposing on this city.

Spatial and Temporal Trends of Short-Term Health Impacts of PM2.5 in Iranian Cities; a Modelling Approach (2013-2016)

“…Hadei et al (2013) estimated short-term mortality attributable to various air pollutants. The total number of mortality cases attributable to PM 2.5 over the three-year period 2013-2016 was 4336 (Hadei et al, 2017b). In a study in Mashhad, the number of premature deaths due to short-term exposure to PM 2.5 was estimated to be 600 during the 2014-2015 period (Miri et al, 2016).…”

Artificial intelligence accuracy assessment in NO2 concentration forecasting of metropolises air

“…Epidemiological studies show that high-level exposure to NO 2 in the air as a pollutant lead to increasing approximately 5-7% of the lung cancers among people (ex-smokers and non-smokers) 9 . Moreover, these studies reveal that a positive correlation between air pollutants such as NO 2 and adverse effects on human health such as changes in the kidney, liver, heart, and decrease resistance immunity to infectious diseases [10][11][12] . World Organization Health (WHO) reported that NO 2 associated with adverse effects such as increases in respiratory symptoms, asthma prevalence and incidence, cancer incidence, adverse birth outcomes and mortality 13 .…”

Short-Term Effects of Atmospheric Pollution on Daily Mortality and Their Modification by Increased Temperatures Associated with a Climatic Change Scenario in Northern Mexico

“…These values were significantly lower than RRI values reported for Panama City [33], and lower than those reported in in Sao Paulo [25], in North Korea [26], in Chongqing, China [28], European cities [34], in Canadian cities [32], and in Temuco and Pudahuel, Chile [41]. When elderly people were considered, it was found that RRI values in MAM were comparable to those reported in Stockholm [38], in European cities [42], and in Tehran [43]. Basu et al [11] have used identical methods to assess the effect estimation through different US cities even with different ranges of apparent temperature.…”