The aims of the current study were to assess the variations in PM2.5 concentrations in Ahvaz (Iran), and related mortality and years of life lost in 2019 and 2020. Backward wind trajectories through HYSPLIT model were obtained. The hourly in-situ data of PM2.5 concentrations were transformed into daily averages. The integrated exposure-response function, relative risk, and baseline incidence values were used for estimation attributable mortality, years of life lost, and loss of life expectancy in Ahvaz. The aerosols variation showed that PM2.5 reduced in post-lockdown (22 April – 21 May, 2020) compared to pre-lockdown phase and same time in 2019. The results of HYSPLIT model illustrated that dust from the Arabian Desert region especially Iraq can travel long distances and contribute to air particulate pollution in Iran. The number of premature deaths for non-accidental causes (37.5 and 31.2), M-IHD (12.4 and 10.3), M-COPD (29 and 28.2), and M-LC (16.2 and 11.25) for exposure to PM2.5 above 10 µg m-3 in people were obtained in 2019 and 2020. The years of life lost declined by 16% in 2020, and exposure to PM2.5 reduced the life expectancy 0.69 and 0.44 years respectively in 2019 and 2020. Previous conducted studies have provided quantitative estimates of the ability of green infrastructure to ameliorate urban air quality (e.g., PM2.5) at city scale worldwide. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

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