الهه زلقی - Department of Environmental Sciences, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
غلامرضا گودرزی - Environmental Technologies Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
سیما سبزعلی پور - Department of Environmental Sciences, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
علیرضا زراسوندی - Department of Geology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

Background & Aims of the Study: Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers globally and the third leading cause of death in Iran. Particulate matter is one of the leading air pollutants in urban areas that can pass through the nose and throat, penetrate deep into the lungs, and cause serious health outcomes. Our primary purpose was to estimate the rate of lung cancer deaths in people over ۳۰ years of age in the long-term exposure to PM۲.۵ in ten years in Ahvaz. Materials and Methods: Data related to deaths (including population and incidence of health outcomes) and PM۲.۵ were obtained from the Deputy of Health, Environmental Protection, and Meteorological Organizations of Ahvaz. After validating the data according to Aphekom’s instructions, they entered the AirQ+ software. Also, ۲۴-hour particle concentrations during the year, total population, at-risk population, the baseline incidence rate of desired health outcomes, and particle threshold of ۱۰μg /m۳ were prepared and entered into the software. Results: The highest concentration of PM۲.۵ was in ۲۰۱۰ (۷۰.۷۲ μg /m۳), and the lowest concentration was in ۲۰۱۴ (۴۱.۹۷ μg /m۳), and in all years of measurement, the amount of PM۲.۵ was higher than the WHO standard (۱۰ μg /m۳). The results showed a significant relationship between lung cancer and PM۲.۵ concentration. Thus, with the increase of air pollution in Ahvaz due to PM۲.۵ pollutants, mortality and the risk of these diseases increased. The results obtained for mortality due to lung cancer is one of the most deadly types, had the highest attributable ۲۸.۵۷% (۲۰۱۰) and the lowest ۲۰.۶۳% (۲۰۱۴). Also, the highest and lowest total attributable individuals were ۲۴ (۲۰۱۰) and ۱۸ (۲۰۱۴), respectively. Thus, PM۲.۵ pollutants can be effective in people with lung cancer. Conclusion: As we know, this pollutant has caused many destructive effects and mortality to the residents of Ahvaz. For this purpose, the authorities in this field must provide preventive and applicable solutions to reduce the concentration of particulate matter and investigate the impacts. It can be concluded that appropriate measures and policies should be adopted to reduce air pollution in controlling PM۲.۵ sources of pollution to reduce the health effects of this pollutant in urban residents. Accordingly, it has been proven that reducing air pollution can reduce the burden of lung cancer and acute and chronic respiratory diseases. According to studies, a decrease of ۱۰ m۳ in the concentration of particulate matter PM۲.۵ increases life expectancy by about ۰.۶۱ years.

Lung Neoplasms, Epigenomics, Air pollution, Chronic exposure, Disease burden index