یوسف امیدی خانی آبادی - Occupational and Environmental Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization, Ahvaz, Iran
بهرام دهقان - Family Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization, Ahvaz, Iran
صادق مقیمی - Occupational and Environmental Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization, Ahvaz, Iran. ۳Gachsaran Oil and Gas Production Company, National Iranian Oil Company, Iran
مهرانگیز عابدنژاد - Gachsaran Oil and Gas Production Company, National Iranian Oil Company, Iran
هدا نانوازاده - Occupational and Environmental Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization, Ahvaz, Iran
نازنین گودرزی - Occupational and Environmental Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization, Ahvaz, Iran
پروانه بهرامی - Occupational and Environmental Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization, Ahvaz, Iran
سعید سعیدی مهر - Family Health Research Center, Petroleum Industry Health Organization, Ahvaz, Iran

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the health effect of exposure to particulate matter (PM۱۰) in the selected Iranian west and southwest cities. Materials and Methods: The hourly in-situ PM۱۰ data were transformed to daily, then used to assess mortality among under exposed people of Ahvaz, Khorramabad, and Ilan by the baseline incidence and relative risk (RR). The rate of total mortality (M-total), cardiovascular mortality (M-CV), and respiratory mortality (M-RD) were calculated finally. Results: Our results revealed that the highest percentage of person-days (%PDE) was estimated at ۱۳۰-۱۳۹ μg m-۳. In addition, ۶.۸% (۹۵% CI: ۵.۸-۷.۸%), ۶.۰% (۹۵% CI: ۵.۱-۶.۹%), and ۳.۷% (۹۵% CI: ۳.۱-۴.۲%) of M-total, ۷.۳% (۹۵% CI: ۴.۸-۱۵.۱%), ۶.۴% (۹۵% CI: ۴.۱-۱۳.۴%), and ۳.۹% (۹۵% CI: ۲.۵-۸.۵%) of M-CV, and eventually ۱۰.۶% (۹۵% CI: ۷.۳-۱۵.۱%), ۹.۳% (۹۵% CI: ۶.۴-۲۴.۱%), and ۵.۸% (۹۵% CI: ۴.۰-۱۶.۰%) of M-RD were for PM۱۰ exposure more than ۱۰ μg m-۳ in the studied cities. Conclusion: To control dust storms, some efforts should be organized on a governmental scale, including the desertification of the dust sources by green space. Further, health-care centers should recommend the public to use proven individual air masks.  

PM۱۰, Health risk behaviors, Middle East, Air pollution, Air quality, Dust storm