Temporal trend of dust storm events and particulate matter (PM2.5  and  PM10 ) in Iran's metropolises, 2011-2022

Mohammad  Khanizadeh; Aliakbar  Hassanpour; Milad  Malekpour; Niloufar Borhani  Yazdi; Elahe  Noruzzade; Mansour  Shamsipour; Sadegh  Niazi; Kazem  Naddafi; Fatemeh  Momeniha; Arman  Abdipour; Ensieh  Sharafkhani; Masoumeh  Hashamfirooz; Faramarz  Azimi; Mohammad Sadegh  Hassanvand

doi:10.18502/japh.v11i2.21875

Mohammad Khanizadeh Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Aliakbar Hassanpour Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Milad Malekpour Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Niloufar Borhani Yazdi Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Elahe Noruzzade Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mansour Shamsipour Department of Research Methodology and Data Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sadegh Niazi International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health (ILAQH), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Queensland, Australia 5 School of Science, Western Sydney University, Kingswood, New South Wales (NSW), Australia
Kazem Naddafi Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Fatemeh Momeniha Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Arman Abdipour Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, United States of America (USA)
Ensieh Sharafkhani Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, United States of America (USA)
Masoumeh Hashamfirooz Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Faramarz Azimi Environmental Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
Mohammad Sadegh Hassanvand Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/japh.v11i2.21875

Keywords: Sand and dust storms; Sand and dust storms (SDS); Particulate matter (PM2.5 , PM10 ); Iran

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigates the temporal trends of Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) and Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10 ) concentrations across nine major Iranian cities from 2011 to 2022, assessing long-term air pollution patterns and associated environmental challenges. Materials and methods: PM concentration data were obtained from air quality monitoring stations. Dust storm events were identified using World Meteorological Organization (WMO) criteria. The primary objective was to analyze spatiotemporal variations and trends, which were statistically assessed using Sen’s slope method.

Results: PM10 levels consistently exceeded WHO annual guidelines by 2.13 to 12 times, while PM2.5 levels were 1.37 to 6.89 times higher. Ahvaz recorded the highest cumulative SDS hours (25,318), followed by Yazd (10,062) and Tabriz (9,609), with annual stormy days reaching up to 66. most pronounced increases in PM10 occurred in Ahvaz, Yazd, and Tabriz. Maximum annual PM10 concentrations were observed in Ahvaz (179.8 µg/m3 in 2013) and Yazd (135.85 µg/m3 in 2022), whereas peak PM2.5 levels were reported in Ahvaz (57.2 µg/m3 in 2022) and Shiraz (43.37 µg/m3 in 2019).

Conclusion: The escalating intensity and frequency of SDS are linked to regional climate variability, drought, and land degradation. The findings underscore an urgent need for comprehensive mitigation strategies, including desertification control, sustainable land management, and enhanced regional cooperation to address these critical environmental and public health challenges.