Assessment of health impact of the surface ozone on a population residing at Agadir city (Morocco) using the AirQ+ model

¹ Laboratory of Geosciences, Environment and Geomatics, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
² High Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques, Agadir, Morocco
³ Research Laboratory of Innovation in Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
⁴ Laboratory of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
⁵ High Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques, Marrakech, Morocco
⁶ Laboratory of Medical Biology, Human and Experimental Pathology and Environment, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohamed V, Rabat, Morocco
⁷ Health Sciences Research Laboratory, National School of Applied Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
⁸ Clinical Epidemiology and Medico-Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University, Morocco

^* Corresponding author: bouchriti.y.ege@gmail.com

Abstract

Several epidemiological and toxicological studies have shown that exposure to surface ozone increases deaths and illnesses. Deteriorating air quality could lead to health concerns in emerging countries such as Morocco. The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term impact of ozone on the health of Agadir residents by using the AirQ+ model. The exposure reference values in 2016 were the daily and yearly average concentrations. Two monitoring stations provided the average ozone concentration per hour. The yearly total of maximum 8-hour ozone levels over 35 ppb was used to forecast probable long-term health impacts. As a health indicator, specific mortality for respiratory disorders was considered. According to the health impact assessment, the yearly cumulative incidence was estimated to 419.5 per 100,000 population. A reduction in ozone concentrations to less than 100 μg/m³ might prevent 13 deaths per year (95% CI: 5–22), with an estimated attributable proportion of 0.73% (95% CI: 0.26–1.24). AirQ+ can be used as a public health tool to assess the health risks of air pollution, providing policymakers with a basis for implementing air quality management strategies to decrease air pollution's health effect.