Ambient Air Quality in an Industrial City in the Subjective Perception of Its Residents

Abstract

Introduction: Perceived air quality and satisfaction with it are significant components of the subjective quality of life in the population of modern cities that affect self-rated well-being and overall life satisfaction. Objective: Theoretical validation of the construct “satisfaction with ambient air quality” that includes the subjective importance of air quality, its perceived quality and acceptability, and its testing within an empirical research in a Russian industrial city. Materials and methods: In March 2023, we conducted a qualitative sociological research that consisted of 17 guided interviews with residents of Novosibirsk aged 18 and older. Text analysis was carried out using axial coding. Results: The analysis of the interviews showed that the structural elements of the theoretical construct of satisfaction are present in everyday consciousness, especially when informants describe the quality of ambient air in their city. Yet, the elements were found to be often mixed and replaced with one another. The categories of “relevance” and “acceptability” were difficult to understand. The respondents could be divided into three groups: 1) those who unambiguously characterize the urban air quality, 2) those who refuse to talk about the city as a whole, focusing on more and less polluted areas, and 3) those who describe the quality of ambient air in Novosibirsk by comparing it with other Russian cities. We noted an adverse effect of ambient air quality on physical and mental health of the residents. Sources of air pollution were defined by the respondents in a fairly general way, e.g. “industrial enterprises”, “landfills, household activities”. Some talked about the advantages of living in the city, which compensate for air pollution. The informants often focused on discussing ways to improve air quality, which can be a marker of community outrage. Conclusion: It is easier for the population to talk about ambient air by interpreting its condition. Most respondents agree that the air quality in their place of residence is rather poor. Overall, the perceived air quality and satisfaction are intersecting but not identical constructs. Negative perception of air quality does not necessarily mean dissatisfaction, especially in the presence of compensating factors.