The effect of the decreasing level of Urmia Lake on particulate matter trends and attributed health effects in Tabriz, Iran

Abstract Air pollution is a problem that accumulates with urbanization and threatens human health Exposure to PM10 can result in multiple health effects. The purpose of this investigation were to identify the trends in the concentrations of PM10 in urban stations of Tabriz, Iran. One of the main problems of Tabriz results from the drying of Urmia Lake and the release of suspended particles from the lake to the urban area. There has been accelerated drying to Urmia Lake over the past decades as well as changes in the local area winds depending on season. Because of the changing PM10 concentrations, it will be useful to map the changes across the study area using geographical information system (GIS) methods. GIS was used to estimate the variations in exposure to PM10 for people living across Tabriz. In addition, health risk assessments (total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, hospital admissions cardiovascular disease, hospital admissions respiratory disease) were conducted as a function of time. Although a Mann–Kendall trend test found that PM10 concentration had decreased during the study period, there is a change in the nature of the particles when the wind direction was from the lake to the Tabriz city. Particularly during the spring and winter, the air pollution caused by PM10 becomes problematic given the effects of the hazardous particulate matter blowing from the lake to the neighboring cities, and more attention paid to the PM10. The results show that the health effects related to PM10 varied with the concentration. Therefore, the development of management strategies to reduce PM10 caused by the drying of Lake Urmia and urban traffic, especially in the central area of ​​the city, is essential for PM10 control and improved public health.