Health Impacts of PM₁₀ Using AirQ2.2.3 Model in Makkah
Pages 259-268
T.M. Habeebullah

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2013.09.34

Published: 08 April 2013

Abstract: The core aim of this paper is to investigate the health impacts of atmospheric particles with aerodynamic diameter of 10 micron or less (PM₁₀) in Makkah. PM₁₀ data were collected by automatic continuous monitoring station in Misfalah, Makkah City. The annual average PM₁₀ concentration during the study period was 195 µg/m³, which is greater than twice the PME standards and 4 times the EC standard. Daily average concentrations also exceeded PME and EC standards. Minimum 24 hour average concentration was 66 µg/m³, which is significantly greater than the EC daily average limit (50 µg/m³). This suggests potential negative impact on human health, especially for more vulnerable groups of population, such as old age, children and people with other health problems (e.g., asthma and other respiratory diseases). Furthermore, health assessment is carried out using AirQ2.2.3 model to estimate the number of hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases. The model is based on a risk assessment approach that combines data on concentration-response functions with data on population exposure to calculate the extent of health effects expected to result from exposure to PM₁₀. The cumulative number of estimated average hospital admission due to respiratory illnesses during the study period was 112665, cumulative number of cases per 100,000 was 2504, and the concentration-response coefficient was 2.342 (95% CI 1.899 – 2.785) per 10 μg/m³ increase of PM₁₀ concentration. The results are discussed in the light of investigations made in several other countries around the world.