Estimation of Health Effects Attributed to NO2 Exposure Using AirQ Model

Background & Aims of the Study: As an air pollutant, NO2 reacts with ammonia, moisture and other compounds to form small particles. These small particles may cause or aggravate respiratory diseases and exacerbate existing heart diseases, leading to increased hospital admissions and premature death. In this study, the AirQ2.2.3 model was used to evaluate adverse health effects caused by NO2 exposure in Ahvaz city (Iran) during 2009. Materials & Methods: The adverse health effects of NO2 as an air pollutant in Ahvaz city at 2009 were calculated by AirQ2.2.3 utilizing relative risk and baseline incidence related to health end point defaults. NO2 data were taken from Ahvaz Department of Environment. These data were in volumetric base. Health effects are being related to the mass of pollutants inhaled and this is why the AirQ model was on gravimetric basis. So, there was a conflict between AirQ model and “Ahvaz Department of Environment (ADoE)” data. Conversion between volumetric and gravimetric units (correction of temperature and pressure), coding, processing (averaging) and filtering are implemented for solving such problem. Results: Approximately 3% of total cardiovascular mortality, acute myocardial infarction, and hospital admission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease happened when the NO2 concentrations was more than 20 μg/m3. Low percentage of the observed health endpoints was associated with low concentration of measured NO2. The lower level of relative risk value may be achieved if some control strategies for reducing NO2 emission are used. Conclusions: Therefore, the higher relative risk value can depict mismanagement in urban air quality.