estimation of the number of excess hospitalizations attributed to sulfur dioxide in six major cities of iran

Background: air pollution is an important issue and public concern throughout the world. sulfur dioxide is one of the pollutants that can lead to many adverse effects on human health, animal and plant life. objectives: our study aimed to estimate excess hospitalization cases due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) and acute myocardial infarction (ami) disease due to short-term exposure to so2 during years 2011 to 2012, in six major cities of iran including tehran, mashhad, tabriz, isfahan, shiraz and urmia. methods: first, hourly air pollution data related to so2 were obtained from the department of environmental in six major cities of iran. next, required parameters were calculated and imported to airq software after data analysis and processing. finally, output results of the number of excess hospitalizations attributed to so2 was presented in the form of tables and graphs. results: the total cumulative numbers of hospital admissions due to copd (ha-copd) were estimated in six iranian major cities, which were 243 in central relative risk in a year. for hospital admission due to acute myocardial infraction (ha-ami), the highest impact of so2 exposure was for urmia with attributable proportion (ap) of 4.56%, corresponding to 41 excess cases in this city. conclusions: although relative risk per 10 g/m3 is low and sometimes mortality and morbidity attributable to pollutant seems slight because of sensitive and large population exposed to air pollutants, burden of disease associated with air pollution will be great. therefore, authorities should apply necessary actions and efforts based on comprehensive scientific researches in order to control air pollutants and abate their negative effects on human health.