Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Particulate Matters Concentration and Their Influence on Ambient Air Quality in Urban Regions of Khuzestan Province, Iran

Background: One of the most concerning pollutants in urban areas across the globe is particulate matter suspended in the Earth’s atmosphere. The main objective of the current investigation is to explore the spatial and temporal patterns of ambient air particles (PM۱۰ and PM۲.۵) and PM۲.۵/PM۱۰ ratio in different urban areas of Khuzestan Province. Methods: In this way, the required data were gathered from the environmental protection organization based on hourly mean concentrations of PM۱۰ and PM۲.۵ of six air pollution-monitoring sites for ۵ years. Results: Results indicated that the average concentrations of PM۱۰, PM۲.۵, and PM۲.۵/PM۱۰ are about ۱۳۴.۱۴±۳۹.۲۳ µg/m۳, ۴۴.۵۱±۱۳.۴۴ µg/m۳ and ۰.۳۳±۰.۰۷, respectively. The examinations revealed a reductive trend on annual values of PMs in terms of temporal variations. A detailed investigation of the annual mean concentrations of PMs and PM۲.۵/PM۱۰ in terms of spatial variations demonstrated the largest values for Naderi-Ahvaz and Abadan stations. Furthermore, the measured AQI was larger than ۱۰۰ and the Exceedance Factor (EF) values of PM۱۰ and PM۲.۵ ranged between ۱.۵۱-۲.۷۳ and ۰.۷۷-۱.۴۱. The statistical analysis obtained from linear regression revealed a significant positive relation between AQI and PM۲.۵ and PM۱۰ with correlation coefficients (R۲) of ۰.۸۲۵۹ and ۰.۷۹۳۴, respectively. Conclusion: Although the analysis and measurement revealed a reductive trend in the annual mean concentrations of PM۲.۵ and PM۱۰, the measured AQI and EF values are still far from the standards of good quality and low pollution. Therefore, it is highly necessary to follow the air pollution protocols to control PM air pollution in Khuzestan Province.

Keywords:

Particulate Matter , Air Quality Index , Exceedance Factor , Khuzestan Province , Iran