Work

Formaldehyde Pollution in Ahvaz, Iran: Spatiotemporal Trends and Health Risks

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We present a satellite-driven, four-year assessment of formaldehyde (HCHO) over Ahvaz that quantifies its spatiotemporal variability, meteorological controls, and health risk. Using Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI (2019–2022) together with MERRA-2/GLDAS/AIRS fields, we relate HCHO to co-pollutants (CO, NO₂, SO₂) and meteorology (precipitation, temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, dew point) and map hotspots via IDW; health risks are evaluated with RAIS. HCHO correlates positively with temperature (r = 0.92) and negatively with relative humidity (r = -0.84) and precipitation (r = -0.65); the wind-speed link is moderately positive (r = 0.46), with primary co-pollutants are weak (CO: r ≈ 0.08; NO₂: r ≈ -0.02). Interannually, 2020 shows the highest HCHO and 2021 the lowest (annual mean ≈8% lower in 2021), with persistent hotspots along the southeastern industrial corridor. IUR-based lifetime inhalation cancer risk peaks in 2020 at ~506 expected excess cases citywide and is lowest in 2021 at ~468. These quantitative results highlight temperature-driven photochemistry and moisture-related removal as key controls on HCHO and motivate strengthened air-quality management to mitigate exposure and protect public health in Ahvaz.

Source: Proceedings of Pakistan Academy of Sciences A Physical and Computational Sciences

DOI: 10.53560/ppasa(62-3)701

Authors: Faezeh Borhani, Mohammad Hashemzadeh, Samira Andam, Seyed Mohsen Mousavi

Institutions: Tarbiat Modares University, University of Tehran, Shahid Beheshti University

Language: English

Topic: Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4414912808

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