Estimation of PM_2.5 pollutant time changes and its effect on ischemic heart disease (IHD) outcome in Ahvaz city, Iran (2008–2017)

Abstract

Air pollution is known today as one of the most important environmental problems in many major cities of the world due to its harmful consequences for human health and the environment. PM_2.5 with a diameter of fewer than 2.5 μm can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause health concerns, including cardiovascular disease. In this study, the hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, and annual changes of PM_2.5 pollutants and its effect on cardiovascular outcome IHD (ischemic heart disease) in a period of 10 years (2008–2017) in Ahvaz were investigated. Also, air quality was investigated for PM_2.5 pollutants based on air quality index (AQI). Data validation was performed using WHO criteria. The average time PM_2.5 was calculated and its health effects were obtained by entering its annual data and population at-risk, baseline incidence (BI), and relative risk (RR) for IHD outcomes. The average concentration of PM_2.5 pollutants in all time changes in Ahvaz was higher than the standard concentration set by WHO. The AQI showed that the city of Ahvaz did not have a good day at all during the 10-year period. Time changes and the air quality index AQI showed that 2010 was the most polluted year with 47 unhealthy (a level that may have harmful impacts on patients and members of sensitive groups) days and 27 dangerous (a level that may have a serious impact on patients and members of sensitive groups in case of acute exposure) days. Also, with the increase in the annual concentration of PM_2.5, the mortality attributed to this pollutant has increased as a result of the outcome of IHD. According to the obtained results, it can be said that the air quality of Ahvaz city was in an unsuitable situation in terms of PM_2.5 pollution and appropriate measures should be taken to reduce mortality due to the outcome of cardiovascular IHD. The survey requires the need to enact and enforce permissible particulate matter levels for reduce the health effect on human by relevant environmental authorities both at Federal and state levels.

Keywords:

• Air pollution
• health
• risk
• cardiovascular disease
• particulate matter

Acknowledgements

The authors are to acknowledge the Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Environmental Protection, Meteorological Organizations, and Department of Health and cure of Khuzestan province for their cooperation in obtaining the required data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.