Health risk to the population in Norilsk under exposure of substances polluting ambient air

Introduction. The city of Norilsk is included in the list of cities participating in the federal project “Clean Air.” The comprehensive action plan for protecting atmospheric air of substances provides a 75% reduction in emissions and a decrease in the level of pollution from “very high” to “high”. 

The aim of the study was to assess human health risk from chemicals that pollute the atmospheric air of the city of Norilsk before the implementation of a complex of air protection measures. Also, we planned to identify priority factors and sources of risk. 

Material and methods. The assessment of carcinogenic, acute, and chronic non-carcinogenic health risks was carried out at 1105 points of location of residential buildings in the city based on summary calculations of dispersion. The database of parameters of 2145 sources of pollutant emissions into the atmospheric air of the city was used. 

Results. Unacceptable, including high levels of risk to the health of citizens, have been established to be registered throughout the city. More than 181.8 thousand people live in high-risk zones. Risks occur both during short-term and long-term exposure to atmospheric pollution. The risk indicators for respiratory disorders diseases of the immune system and the blood system are ten or more times higher than the acceptable levels. There have been eleven priority pollutants contributing up to 90% to unacceptable risks (nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, copper, nickel, lead oxides, the sum of various types of industrial dust, etc.).  

Conclusion. In general, aerogenic health risks require urgent measures to reduce them. The planned measures to suppress sulfur dioxide emissions, nitrogen oxides, and dust in Norilsk are generally large-scale and adequate to the priority risk factors. At the same time, it is necessary to develop and implement measures to reduce emissions of heavy metal compounds. Until the levels of acceptable health risk are reached, measures of a medical and prophylactic nature are relevant as compensation measures provided for by current legislation.