Practical Experience of Using the Index of Comparative Health Hazard to Substantiate the List of Pollutants for Monitoring

Abstract

Introduction: When selecting the most hazardous pollutants for inclusion in air quality monitoring programs, it is important to consider criteria of population health risk. Objective: To substantiate the list of priority air pollutants for 10 new cities of the Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk Regions enrolled in the Clean Air Federal Project using the index of comparative hazard to population health and results of air quality testing to elaborate monitoring programs for the period until the results of summary calculations for the territory are obtained. Materials and methods: We used data provided by the Federal Supervisory Natural Resources Management Service (Rosprirodnadzor) on actual annual emissions (Form No. 2-TP (Air) for 2022) from sources of air pollution located in the cities of Angarsk, Achinsk, Zima, Irkutsk, Lesosibirsk, Minusinsk, Svirsk, Usolye-Sibirskoye, Cheremkhovo, and Shelekhov. Compliance with sanitary and epidemiological requirements for ambient air quality was established based on data from monitoring sites of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) and the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) for 2020–2022. To substantiate the lists of air pollutants to be monitored within the framework of public health surveillance, we ranked chemicals according to Russian Risk Assessment Guidelines R 2.1.10.3968–23. Results: Based on the results of assessing contributions to the total index of comparative carcinogenic hazard, certain chemicals were proposed to be included into monitoring programs due to their carcinogenic potential when inhaled (acetaldehyde, benzo(a)pyrene, benzene, buta-1,3-diene, lead, carbon, formaldehyde, chromium (IV), etc.). Evaluation of percent contributions to the total index of comparative non-carcinogenic hazard revealed the need to expand monitoring programs to include the following highly hazardous chemicals: dialuminum trioxide, dihydrosulfide, dimethylamine, manganese and its compounds, sulfuric acid, fluorides, and chlorine. According to the findings, 10 to 24 pollutants were recommended for inclusion in the 2023–2024 public health surveillance program. Conclusion: The use of comparative hazard indices and consideration of their contributions to the corresponding total indices of comparative carcinogenic and/or non-carcinogenic hazard allowed us to substantiate the lists of pollutants to be included in the public health surveillance programs in 10 new cities enrolled in the Clean Air Federal Project for 2023–2024 and to expand them by including admixtures posing human health risks.