Assessment of Air Basin Pollution within the Limits of the Technogenic System (Dalpolimetall) Impact Using Mathematical Modeling

Abstract

The article presents the results of research of air technogenic pollution within the limits of the natural-mining system impact formed by Dalpolimetall mining-metallurgical enterprise activity in the Primorsky Krai. Its development is due to intensive polymetallic ore development and accumulation of significant amount of its processing toxic waste, stored in two tailing dumps, located at the area of 80 hectares, withdrawn from the forest land fund, their volume being 32.2 mln tons. The studies found that in general the waste on the surface of the tailing dump is of the second class of danger (high-hazard), which is currently in the stage of active formation, being a powerful negative impact factor for the environment. The study of the air pollution degree, carried out by gas survey on transversal profiles, shows that the largest number of different heavy metal compounds is contained in the dust selected for analysis near the tailing dump. Its maximum concentration, reaching 86 MAC, was revealed near the concentrating factory. The average concentration throughout the territory of the object under study is 38 times higher than the allowable limits. High concentrations of carcinogenic elements (arsenic, chromium and antimony) are found in the dust samples. The assessment of the air basin impact carried out by the method of computation monitoring using GIS-technology and the Ecologist Software, allows to assert that its pollution by mineral processing waste within the limits of Dalpolimetall impact in Dalnegorsk refers to an extremely high level for toxic dust, heavy metal compounds and sulfate-ion aerosols. The results of the research of air basin technogenic pollution using mathematical modeling allowed to reveal spatial and temporal regularities of the main pollutants distribution.