Abstract. Risk assessment to public health living in the environmental problems is of great importance for humans today. However, the main attention is paid to major industrial centers, while for cities not having developed industries such studies are rare. The study of the intensity and structure of chemical air pollution was conducted to determine the risk levels for human health from effects of the chemical air pollution in residential areas of Aktau city (West Kazakhstan). Method of retrospective analysis of emissions into the atmosphere was used, and damage to health was determined in accordance with the risk assessment procedure. We take into account the major pollutants, the city being in the air basin -sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia and total hydrocarbons. The main threat to children's health is caused by common hydrocarbons (88%), nitrogen oxides (5%), and ammonia (3%).

The assessment of renal functions of the adult population of Atyrau (West Kazakhstan) exposed to Atyrau oil refinery and other industrial objects (enterprises in the city), as well as employees of this refinery has been performed by virtue of the identification ofpathological changes in the urine with the use ofphotometric screening, determination of serum levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid and the calculation of glomerular filtration rate. There were obtained evident data testifying to the development of statistically significant exertion of renal function in residents of this city as compared with those of control area residents. There was revealed a statistically significant decrease in the relative density of urine in in 42% of the population, leucocyturia - in 20%, erythrocyturia - in 25%. Decreased glomerularfiltration rate was noted in these people. A statistically significant elevation of the level of uric acid in the blood in combination with an acidic reaction and sharply acidic urine reaction indicates to the possibility of the development of urate urolithiasis which is confirmed by cases of discharge of stones in the urine in 20% of the population according to data of previously executed questionnaire survey. The above mentioned changes in the functional renal reserve and hyperuricemia are equally often found among the residents of the city - Atyrau refinery workers, and the rest of the city people as well. The results of the study allow to recommend the screening ofurine with quantitative registration ofpathological changes as a mean of the most optimal objective methods for early detection of renal dysfunction in population exposed to nephrotoxic impact of environmental techno-genic pollutants.