“Pure air” federal project: practical experience in selecting chemicals for an information system for the analysis of ambient air quality

Introduction. Norilsk is annually both included into the Priority list of RF cities with the highest ambient air contamination and considered also among 12 large industrial centers where “Pure air” Federal project, an integral part of “Ecology” National project, is implemented. It is possible to assess whether targets fixed in a Federal project have been achieved only provided that there is a relevant system for assessing changes in ambient air quality parameters. To achieve that, experts created an information system for analyzing ambient air quality; among other data, the system used those obtained via social hygienic monitoring activities. Determining a list of chemicals that are priority factors causing inhalation risks is an integral part in finding solutions to this task.

Material and methods. To solve tasks formulated in the research, we calculated comparative hazard indices for contaminants emitted by industrial enterprises in Norilsk; we also assessed sufficiency of programs for monitoring over ambient air quality taking into account results of dispersion calculations, results obtained via field observations performed by Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Rosgidromet) and Federal Service for Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor), and health risk assessments.

Results. The assessment comparative hazard indices allowed creating a preliminary list of priority contaminants that included 18 substances. The list was specified and there were supplemented results obtained by analyzing data on aggregated dispersion calculations. Hygienic analysis of results obtained by field observations revealed substances that were priority ones as per their concentrations exceeding MPC and acceptable health risk levels. The final list included 19 chemicals that were recommended for monitoring over ambient air quality in Norilsk, including particulate matter PM₁₀ and PM_2.5.

Conclusion. Further development of programs for monitoring the ambient air quality is among the most significant activities aimed at solving project tasks within “Pure air” Federal project and assessing achievements of project targets. Application of the methodology of health risk assessment allowed spotting out priority chemicals that were the most hazardous for people living in Norilsk; those chemicals were subject to obligatory control. The list included nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, benzene, particulate matter, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, phenol, hydrogen sulfide, cobalt oxide, copper (II) oxide (recalculated as per copper), nickel oxide (recalculated as per nickel), sulfur dioxide, and formaldehyde.