Peak Air Pollution Episodes During

HajjIsobel Simpson

University of California, Irvine Irvine, California, USA

isimpson@uci.edu

Haider A. KhwajaNew York State Dept. of Health and

SPH, Univ. at AlbanyAlbany, New York, USA

haider.khwaja@health.ny.gov

Azhar SiddiqueKing Abdulaziz University

Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabiaamohammad@kau.edu.sa

Tao WangHong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong, Chinacetwang@polyu.edu.hk

Funded by: King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaProf. Omar S. Aburizaiza

Air pollution is a top global killer (7 million deaths; WHO).

Particulate Matter (PM), a major component of

outdoor air pollution is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) (IARC).

Air quality during the Hajj season sharply deteriorates, exposing pilgrims to dangerous levels of pollutants.

For more on this study: Haider A. Khwaja et al., Poster Number A13C-3189

Extremely high levels of air pollutants

during the Hajj period.

PM7 , PM2.5 , O3 , and BC

concentrations of up to 9,433 µg/m³ ,

484 µg/m³ , 444 ppb, and 468 µg/m³ ,

respectively.

Exceeded the WHO standards for

PM10 , PM2.5 , and O3 by many folds.

PM10 % Increase in Daily Mortality:

6 – 700

PM10 % Increase in Hospital Admissions:

7.2 – 840

PM10 % Change in Cough:

39 – 4550

PM10 % Change in Symptom

Exacerbation: 30 - 3450

Estimated Risk for Pilgrims Health during Hajj

Congested traffic and the high rates of emissions Longer trip

durations higher exposure of gaseous and particulate pollutants for

longer periods of time increase in pilgrim’s health risks.

Reducing the high levels of air pollutants the pilgrim’s breathe

during the Hajj will prevent non-communicable diseases.

Better understanding of air pollution exposure and their

determinants in the environments will contribute to the development

of more appropriate exposure reductive strategies and have

significant public health meanings.

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