Estimate of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases related to particle matter pollutant in Tabriz air, northwest of Iran, 2011

aerosols as a branch of pollutants have a variety of types and complexity. It has been proved that exposure with aerosols (particle matter) in different sizes can increase the risk of heart diseases and respiratory problems. Tabriz as the center of east Azerbaijan is one of the most populated and polluted cities in Iran. This research aims to estimate heart and respiratory diseases related to PM10 pollutant in 2011. First the PM10 concentration required was measured by GRIMM from Tabriz Environment Organization. Stations were“Namaz square (in the beginning of Rasteh koucheh)”, “Hakim Nazemi”, “Baghshomal”, and “Railway”. The parameters of temperature and pressure were collected through Tabriz Meteorological Organization., Then, this data were processed by Excel software through correcting temperature and pressure, coding, averaging and filtering. Finally, the data processed were entered to Air Q)Air Quality Health Impact Assessment(model. This model includes four screen inputs (Supplier, AQ data, Location, Parameter) and two output screens (Table and Graph). the results of sampling showed that the maximum concentration of PM10 was related to Namaz square station as 87.95 µg/m3 and the minimum was related to Baghshomal station at 78.33 µg/m3. The results of model showed that the number of respiratory and hearth diseases related to PM10 pollutant in Tabriz air was 1088 and 420, respectively, in 2011. Conclusion & The cumulative number of heart diseases had a decrease of 31 compared to that in 2008. The greatest number of cardiovascular diseases (44) was at concentration interval of 70-88 µg/m3. With the increase of each 10 µg/m3 of PM10 concentration, the risk of cardiovascular diseases in Tabriz increased 0.9%. The cumulative number of respiratory diseases from PM10 reduced 79 persons compared to 2008. 68% of cases happened on the days with concentration less than 120 µg/m3. With the increase of each 10 µg/m3 of PM10 concentration the risk of respiratory diseases in Tabriz increased 0/8%. The reduction of cases of respiratory and heart diseases in 2011versus 2008 was due to the reduction of annual concentration of PM10 in 2011versus 2008.