Effectiveness of the activities of the federal project “Clean air” by the quality of atmospheric air and risk for the health (by means of the example of the city Bratsk)

Abstract

Introduction. The study is relevant due to the necessity to adequately assess the effectiveness of activities performed within the “Clean Air” Federal Project using ambient air quality and public health risks as key performance indicators. The purpose of the work was to comparatively assess ambient air quality and airborne health risks for Bratsk population over 2020 –2022 when activities planned within the “Clean Air” Federal Project were being implemented in the city. Materials and methods. The analysis was based on data obtained by instrumental measurements of ambient air quality performed within social-hygienic monitoring programs. More than thirty thousand measuring results were considered; they covered 20 chemicals and were taken at two monitoring posts. Carcinogenic and acute and chronic non-carcinogenic health risks were assessed in conformity with the existing regulatory documents. Results. Between 2020 and 2022, a decrease in ground levels of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride, and some other technogenic chemicals was registered at social-hygienic monitoring posts in Bratsk. These chemicals were subject to specific activities stipulated by the “Clean Air” Federal Project and performed by economic entities. However, public health risks remained impermissible. Thus, an acute risk of respiratory diseases equaled 3.24 during 2022 and a chronic risk of respiratory diseases reached 5.43 in the same year whereas their permissible level should not exceed 3.0. Limitations. Analysis is possible only if there is a sufficient number of instrumental studies at points located in residential buildings to assess the risk (least 300 one-time or 75 daily samples for each impurity). Conclusion. The study results indicate still necessary to take further efforts to provide a safer environment for Bratsk population and to continue monitoring of chemicals that create impermissible health risks. The most important task is to manage systemic operative data exchange between systems for environmental and social-hygienic monitoring to provide adequate assessment of a sanitary-hygienic situation as well as objective evaluation of key performance indicators of the “Clean Air” Federal Project