Air Quality and Related Health Effects in Urban Areas of Iran During COVID-19 Pandemic Using AirQ + Tool

Abstract The study investigated the impact of sudden frozen economy during the COVID-19 pandemic on air pollution and related health effects. The concentrations of PM₁₀, PM2.5, SO₂, O₃, NO₂, and CO for Air Quality Index (AQI) calculations were obtained from the Iranian Air Pollution Monitoring System in 7 provinces of central Iran between 2018 and 2021. AirQ⁺ software was employed to estimate health risk of respiratory mortality due to O₃ exposure. AQI values decreased significantly during the lockdown (39.42%) and increased after (19.09%). Comparing to 2018–2019, air pollution in 2021 decreased by: PM2.5 4.73%, PM₁₀ 0.5%, SO₂ 50.4%, NO₂ 21.16%, and CO 10.84%. However, O₃ concentrations increased during lockdown by 8.2%. Mortality due to O₃ exposure increased during the lockdown comparing with the baseline in 2018–2019, except for Tehran province. Death rates due to long-term exposure to ambient O₃ in investigated Iranian urban areas also increased. The use of air quality and emission standards is crucial towards the reduction of adverse health impacts associated with ambient air pollution.