Atmospheric ground layer pollution by suspended solid particles in areas with different technogenic loads

Abstract

Introduction. According to the World Health Organization ambient air pollution causes enormous harm to public health around the world. Atmospheric solid suspended particles are a heterogeneous mixture of substances with various dimensional, qualitative and quantitative parameters. They are a key indicator of air pollution, contributing to the bronchopulmonary pathology formation. At the moment, there is no general recommended ranking of the solid suspended particles amount in the atmospheric air.Aim. Determination of the SSP fractional content in the air ground layer in high and relatively low technogenic load areas of Vladivostok.Materials and methods. Atmospheric air samples were taken «in the breathing zone» using an electric aspirator. In the granulometric analysis of SSP, the particle size distribution, expressed as a percentage, and the mass concentration of fractions (μg/m3 ) were determined. The ranges of dimensions have been identified, taking into account the solid suspended particles possible origin and the expected pathophysiological features of their effect on the organism.Results. An area with a high technogenic load is characterized by the prevalence of particles with a diameter of up to 10 microns, which have the most pathogenic effect on the organism. In an area with a relatively low technogenic load, particles of larger fractions (10-25, 1000-2000 microns) predominate.Conclusion. Studying the solid suspended particles parameters in specific areas and establishing their influence cellular mechanisms can help in the development of new strategies for the prevention of environmentally-related pathologies.