Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objective: The human environment is very sensitive and fragile. In recent years the rate of pollutants has been increasing. Ahvaz city (located in South-West of Iran) with a population of 1,000,000 persons is one of the seven polluted Iranian metropolises. So, the aim of current study was to estimate the number of respiratory and cardiovascular deaths related to ozone exposure in Ahvaz, during 2011.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used exposure metrics of ozone for estimation health effects on Ahvaz citizens. Collected data was processed by Excel software (through correcting temperature and pressure, coding, averaging and filtering). Finally, estimation of health effects attributed to ozone air pollution by Air Q model.

Results: Findings showed that the number of cardiovascular deaths resulted from ozone exposure was estimated to be 142 persons per year. 67% of these cases have been occurred in days with ozone levels not exceeding 120 μg/m³. Based on the results of this study, 49 persons were estimated as respiratory deaths within one year of exposure. 80 %of these cases have been occurred in days with ozone levels not exceeding 140 μg/m3.

Conclusion: We need to extend epidemiologic study for calculating relative risks, attributable proportion and baseline incidence until using data for estimating health effects on humans. The use of emission reduction scenarios such as emission reductions by industries and vehicles can step forward to have environment free of contaminants.

Key words: Ozone, Cardiovascular deaths, Respiratory deaths

Funding: This research was personally funded.

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences approved the study.

How to cite this article: Geravandi S, Neisi AK, Goudarzi G, Vousoghi Niri M, Mohammadi MJ. Estimation of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Deaths Related to Ozone Exposure in Ahvaz, During 2011. J RafsanjanUniv Med Sci 2015 13(11): 1073-82. [Farsi]