The level, source, and health outcome of PM2.5 exposure in Southwest Iran
Bahram Kamarehei, Majid Farhadi, Farshid Soleimani, M Dolati, Arefeh Sepahvand, Marzieh Bayat, Ali Farhadi, Ayda Sepahvand, Mohammad Javad Mohammadi
Abstract
Dusty storms considerably increase airborne particles in dry and semi-dry locations, such as deserts with no plants and strong winds. Therefore, the environment and people are affected severely. Ahvaz, an important metropolis, is often polluted by neighboring nations. The present research studies the concentration, source, and calculation of these particles' effects. For health consequences evaluation, the WHO suggests the Air Quality Health Impact Evaluation Programmed (Air Q 2.2.3). Khuzestan Meteorology Office recorded particulate matter measurements on both hazy and clear days. The data was gathered voluminously in 2023. According to data collected from Khuzestan province's meteorology documents, 49 days in 2023 had very unsafe air quality. The most polluted months in terms of the number of dust days are as follows: January (14 days) > December (12 days) > November (11 days) > August (5 days) > May (3 days) > September (2 days) > March, February, June, July, October (1 day) > April (0 days). HYSPLIT maps indicate that Iran causes dust in March, the Great Arabian Desert in December and August, Iraq in April, September, and October, Kuwait in January, Turkey in February and July, Egypt in June and May, and Oman in November. The meteorology database reveals that Ahvaz is highly polluted and that 49 days had unacceptable dust levels. Based on assessments obtained employing the Air Q+ programs, the people of Ahvaz encountered heart disease, respiratory disease, and stroke caused by their exposure to PM 2.5 particulates. • Analysis of the particulate matter indicates that Ahvaz city is one of the most polluted cities in the world. • Calculation using the Air Q+ program indicates that PM 2.5 exposure could be linked to current cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and stroke in the city of Ahvaz. • The source of PM 2.5 in Ahvaz city could be due to dust flows from dry and semi-arid regions of neighboring countries, such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Syria.