On accounting for emissions of pollutants from autonomous heat supply sources of individual residential buildings when conducting summary calculations of atmospheric air pollution for settlements

Introduction. Autonomous sources of heat supply (ASHS) can make a crucial contribution to the level of atmospheric air pollution in settlements. However, emissions from ASHS in most cases are either not included in the summary calculations of atmospheric air pollution at all or estimated with significant uncertainties.

The purpose of this study was a hygienic assessment of methods and results of accounting for emissions of pollutants from the ASHS of individual residential buildings when conducting summary calculations of atmospheric air pollution for settlements.

Materials and methods. The original methodology of a phased survey of the city’s ASHS was used and the results of summary calculations of atmospheric air pollution in 18 cities conducted using this methodology are presented. Calculations of single, average seasonal (for the cold period) and average annual surface concentrations of pollutants were carried out in accordance with current regulatory documents using the unified software for calculating atmospheric pollution (UPRZA) “Ecologist-city”. In all the studied cities a significant number of sources of atmospheric air pollution was established to be ASHS. In more than 90% of these sources, coal and firewood were used as energy carriers. The greatest excess of hygienic standards of atmospheric air quality was noted for benz(a)pyrene. In 15 cities, the highest calculated maximum single surface concentration of at least one pollutant created by emissions from ASHS exceeded the maximum allowable single concentration (MACs).

Limitations of the study are due to the fact that direct instrumental measurements to determine the characteristics of emissions from ASHS into the atmosphere are impossible.

Conclusions. The area of the city’s territory where the estimated maximum single surface concentration of at least one pollutant exceeded the MACs, reached 45%, and the seasonal average concentration exceeded maximum allowable average annual concentration on 50% of the territory. The most effective measure to reduce air pollution by emissions from ASHS is the replacement of solid and liquid mineral fuels with natural gas. Unification of methods of accounting and inventory of ASHS as sources of atmospheric air pollution is required.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require the submission of the conclusion of the Biomedical Ethics Committee or other documents.

Contribution:
Volkodaeva M.V. — research concept and design;
Karelin A.O. — analysis of the received data, writing the text;
Lomtev A.Yu. — conceptualization, supervision, verification;
Kanchan Y.S. — assessment of emissions from autonomous heat supply sources;
Levkin A.V. — geoinformation systems, carrying out calculations of dispersion of pollutant;
Timin S.D. — field surveys, getting the source data, creating a data bank and performing calculations.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: November 2, 2022 / Accepted: December 8, 2022 / Published: March 25, 2023