Estimation of health effects attributed toNO2exposure from the use of AirQ model in Ahvaz

Background & objectives:AirQ software proved to be a valid and reliable tool to estimate the potential short term effects of air pollution. In this study the AirQ2.2.3 model was used to evaluate adverse health effects caused by nitrogen dioxide(NO2) exposure in Ahvaz during 2009. Materials & Methods:The AirQ,developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to predict health endpoints attributed to criteria pollutants and permits the examination of various scenarios in which emission rates of pollutants are varied.Nitrogen dioxide(NO2) reacts with ammonia, moisture, and other compounds to form small particles. These small particles penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory diseases, such as emphysema and bronchitis, and can aggravate existing heart disease, leading to increased hospital admissions and premature death. Results: In the present study approximately 3%of total cardiovascular mortality, acute myocardial infarction and hospital admission of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease happened when the NO2 concentration was morethan 20µg/m3. Conclusions: Low percentage of observed health endpoints was associated to low concentration of measured NO2. The lower level of RR value might achieve if some control strategies for reducing NO2 emission were used. Therefore the higher RR value can depict mismanagement in urban air quality.