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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.

Evidence of the health impact of air pollution in Morocco is scarce. We aimed to test our hypothesis that exposure to air pollutants has a significant impact on the health of Moroccans. For this systematic review, we searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, LILACS, and ProQuest databases, Google Scholar, and forward and backward citations for studies published between the database inception and August 16, 2022. All studies and reports that measure air quality in Morocco and its health impact were included, without language restrictions. This study is registered on PROSPERO under number CRD42020163948. Studies were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria rather than their methods. The data was extracted, coded, and prepared for future examination. After that, descriptive and thematic analyses were carried out. Of 1230 records identified, 31 were eligible, all of which had annual air pollutant concentrations in excess of WHO Air Quality Guidelines. The health impact was demonstrated in five studies. The most studied pathologies were asthma, respiratory and cardiac infections in children under 12 years and adults. In addition to heavy metals, the most investigated pollutants were PM10, O3, SO2, and NOx. The significant association between exposure to air pollutants and health in the Moroccan population has been demonstrated, even if it is not causal. Future research should quantify the health impact of pollution in other Moroccan cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to household dust is a common occurrence in all countries and causes various diseases. This study provided information on the number, shape, size distribution, and elemental composition of household dust particles collected in urban homes in Agadir city in Morocco. Moreover, a potential human health risk of exposure has been identified based on current research. Samples were analyzed using computer-controlled scanning electron microscopy and ImageJ image processing program. A total of 3296 particles were analyzed for their size, and 76 particles were classified according to their size and elemental composition. Household dust particles were classified in six types: microaggregates (31.6%), biogenic (5.3%), spherical (17.1%), subrounded (7.9%), subangular (11.8%), and angular (26.3%). These particles were determined to have originated from a distant source (Trask classification index between 1 and 2.5). They were large (Skewness asymmetry coefficient > 1), and ranged from 0.2 to 363 µm with an average value of 22.8 ± 0.6 µm in diameter. Dust particles with diameters of 5-10 µm and 10-20 µm were the most abundant, while dust diameters of 10-20 µm, 20-30 µm, and > 100 µm were the highest in volume. The domestic dust deposition rate was 19.8 ± 7.4 g/m² per year. Household dust is one of the major sources of PM10 in the residential environment (44.6% of the total number of particles), and the studied properties of house dust are highly related to human health. Household dust is a critical element to be considered in the occurrence of respiratory and cardiovascular infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]