Anthropogenic and technogenic air pollution: case study of Bratsk

Abstract

In the Russian Federation, the problem of atmospheric air pollution is relevant for most regions. Based on the dispersion calculations, the risk to the Bratsk population’s health from the chemicals that pollute the air was assessed. It was found that short-term effects of atmospheric pollution cause non-carcinogenic risks to the respiratory system, the immune and blood systems, systemic disorders and damage developmental processes. More than 95% of the contribution to the aggregate level of acute risks are made by dust, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, gaseous fluorides, and benzene. Chronic exposure increases the level of the carcinogenic risk, causes the non-carcinogenic risk to the respiratory system, the skeletal system, blood damage and developmental disorders. More than 95% of the contribution are made by nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, gaseous and poorly soluble fluorides, benzene, benzo (a) pyrene, carbon, hexavalent chromium and dust. A list of 13 priority pollutants that should be regularly monitored in Bratsk was compiled.