Study of Spatiotemporal Trend of Particulate Matters (PM10 and PM2.5) Across The Eastern basin of Urmia Lake using satellite remote sensing data and risk assessment of respiratory-cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Background: Air pollution and increase in dust episodes have been considered as one of the important concerns of environment and health issues in Iran. On the other hand, the severe desiccation of Lake Urmia in the East and West Azerbaijan has made this problem more important. The windblown salty aerosols from lakebed can result in farmland destruction and various disease in nearby areas. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the particulate matters concentrations (PM) over the eastern basin of the Lake during 2000 to 2016. Methods: The MODIS AOD products regressed linearly against the ground-level measurements of PM and based on the achieved relationship, PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were estimated for all rural and urban areas over the adjacent (Shabestar ،Azarshahr، Ajabsheer،Osku، Bonab، Malekan), middle (Maragheh and Tabriz) and far (Heris ،Sarab and Bostanabad) areas in the eastern basin of Lake during 2001-2016.The relative risks of asthma, chronic bronchitis, mortality of acute bronchitis and hospitalizations of cardiovascular disease estimated by Poisson Regression function. Also, performing the backward trajectories via HYSPLIT model, the origin and distribution of PM were determined at altitudes of 500, 1000 and 2000 m. Results: Compared to the first half of the study period (2001-2007), the mean PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations found to be increased during 2008 to 2016 by (99.7% and 56.6%)، (71.5% and 44.7%) and (39.9% and 44.6%) over adjacent، middle and far areas، respectively. The total mean concentrations of (PM10) and (PM2.5) were (102.7 ،82.1 84.8) and (23.6 ،22 ، 21) micrograms per cubic meter over adjacent ، middle and far areas, respectively. The mean relative risk (RR) of asthma, chronic bronchitis، acute bronchitis and cardiovascular disease found to be 1.2, 1.1, 1.5, 1.1, respectively. Considering the wind direction and HYSPLIT maps, the aerosols were mainly originated from western countries particularly during April, May and June months. Conclusions: The existence of plain lands makes adjacent counties more prone to particulate matter originated from both lake bed and western countries compared to farther counties which are surrounded by mountains.