ESTIMATION OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR POLLUTION AND HEALTH RISK FOR ROSTOV-ON-DON POPULATION

Abstract

Technogenic pollution of the environment has a negative impact on the health of the population. Atmospheric air is an integral component of the environment, which is associated with the most part of health risks from environmental factors. The risk concept makes it possible to obtain a quantitative assessment of the potential and real danger to public health, implied with the levels of exposure to adverse environmental factors in the real conditions of populated areas. The purpose of the study is to assess the pollution of atmospheric air in connection with the health risk to the population of Rostov-on-Don. Monitoring of atmospheric pollution is carried out at seven fixed stations of the State Environmental Observing Service of the Rostov State Hydrometeorological Service. The average annual and maximum concentrations of eight air pollutants were analyzed. Excess ratio of admissible concentration limit and complex index of air pollution Р were used as indicators characterizing air pollution. For risk assessment, the risk of immediate action (reflex effects), chronic intoxication, and carcinogenic risk were calculated. Rostov-on-Don is a large industrial and administrative-territorial center, a transport hub. Motor transport plays the leading role in the atmospheric air pollution of the city. The atmospheric air of Rostov-on-Don is polluted above the permissible hygienic standards. The pollution level in the central part of the city, determined by the indicator P (average annual concentrations) is in 1.5 times higher than in the relatively clean Northern residential area. The risk of immediate action in the central part of the city is in 3.38 times higher, the risk of chronic intoxication is higher in 2.05 times, compared to the Northern residential community of the city. According to the results of the risk assessment on immediate action and chronic intoxication from air pollution, the most dangerous to the health of the population are suspended substances, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, phenol and formaldehyde.  Chromium and formaldehyde mainly contribute to the formation of carcinogenic risks from the air pollution.