HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF EXPOSURE TO PARTICULATE MATTER LESS THAN 10 MICRON AND SULFUR DIOXIDE USING AIRQ MODEL IN URMIA, IRAN

Poor air quality regarding harmful consequences as one of the most important
environmental problems have challenged many metropolises. Since exposure to these pollutants can
affect human health, this study aimed to investigate the health effects of SO2 and PM10 attributable to
the air pollution on the health of the Urmia citizens in 2013 using software AirQ.
Materials & Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, after validating the hourly concentration of
SO2 and PM10 according to the standards of WHO, required primary and secondary processing, the
health effects and related mortality rates were estimated by the standard software of AirQ2.2.3 based on
the pollutant concentration and the exposure of people.
Results: Annual average concentration of SO2 and PM10 were respectively 89 and 83μg/m3 in Urmia
in 2013. These results were 4.45 and 1.7 times of WHO guidelines. The cumulative number of attributed
mortality to SO2 and PM10 were estimated 121 and 158 cases. The number of hospital admissions due
to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was reported 25 cases and the number of hospital admissions
due to acute myocardial infarction was 46 cases.
Conclusion: Regarding the health effects attributed to SO2 and PM10 pollutants in the air of Urmia, It
is essential to focus on air pollution control more than before.