Hygienic Assessment of Ambient Air and Non-Carcinogenic Risk for Public Health Living on Border Territories

Abstract

The purpose of the research study was the identification and quantitative assessment of ambient air pollution with risk assessment to public health on the territories of the Orenburg region, bordering the Republic of Kazakhstan. A hygienic assessment of thirteen border municipalities of the Orenburg region was carried out in the paper. We conducted an ambient air analysis for 23 substances, which are under long-term dynamic observation and a non-carcinogenic risk to public health was calculated. It was established that the Western and Central parts of the border territories differing in the qualitative composition of pollutants have the highest level of anthropogenic air pollution. At the same time, the qualitative composition of pollutants in the Western part of the border territory is mainly represented by substances that originate from gas and oil refining facilities. Priority pollutants in the Central part of the border territory are substances that originate from non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy facilities. Climatic data analysis in the study territory has shown that conditions for the transboundary transfer of atmospheric pollution, both from Kazakhstan and from the Russian Federation can be created with certain meteorological parameters. Non-carcinogenic health risk analysis showed the probability of adverse effects development on organs and systems, as well as the probability of malignant neoplasms occurrence in the population living on the border territories. The study justifies and confirms the need to develop a system for monitoring and to assess the probability for transboundary transport of atmospheric pollution, as well as practical recommendations and preventive measures to reduce anthropogenic load.