Carcinogenic risk associated with atmospheric air pollution in industrial cities of the Central Chernozem region

Abstract

Introduction. Industrial cities are characterized by a significant amount of emissions of carcinogenic substances into the atmospheric air. In this regard, for the development of preventive measures, there is needed research to quantify the carcinogenic risk to health. The aim of the work was to quantify the carcinogenic risk associated with aerotechnogenic pollution of the cities of the Central Chernozem region including Voronezh, Lipetsk, and Belgorod. Materials and methods. Data on the results of monitoring laboratory studies in 2017–2022 were used as initial data. The carcinogenic risk was assessed according to G. 2.1.10.1920–04 “Guidelines for assessing the risk to public health when exposed to chemicals that pollute the environment”. Results. Taking into account the available objective data of laboratory control of carcinogens in the atmospheric air of the cities of the Central Chernozem region of Russia, pollutants have been identified whose exposure under standard exposure scenarios causes the level of individual carcinogenic risk to public health above the maximum permissible (1 • 10–4): in Voronezh – 1,3–butadiene (the source of emissions is the production of synthetic rubber) and chromium6+ compounds (the main source of emissions is an aviation plant); in Lipetsk – formaldehyde, at some control points – benzene (the main sources are emissions from metallurgical production and motor transport). Attention should be paid to the need to improve monitoring of the content of carcinogens in the atmospheric air of Belgorod, because in the presence of many sources of pollution, the concentrations of only two carcinogens are controlled. Limitations. The limitations of the study are due to the fact that the calculation of individual carcinogenic risks is always inherent in the uncertainties associated with the assessment of exposure and the use of standard formulas for calculating doses of intake into the body. Conclusion. To reduce the carcinogenic risk associated with air pollution, a set of measures should be implemented to reduce the intake of carcinogenic pollutants into the atmospheric air, and to implement rational urban planning decisions.