Introduction: There is an urgent need for reclamation of abandoned coal mine lands in Kuzbass to reduce their adverse effects on the environment. Objective: To assess risks to public health posed by air pollution associated with coal mine liquidation and land reclamation. Materials and methods: We used data on the volume of maximum permissible emissions of the abandoned coal mine area for 2019 to assess the spread and exposure to pollutants at 40 points selected on the map of the city of Prokopyevsk, Kemerovo Region, and to estimate the maximum and mean concentrations of the contaminants. The values of carcinogenic risk and risks of non-carcinogenic effects were calculated in compliance with the Russian Guidelines R 2.1.10.1920–04, Human Health Risk Assessment from Environmental Chemicals, while risks of chronic toxicity were assessed using methods by Shcherbo et al. The calculated risk values were then compared with their acceptable levels. Risks were also assessed with account for the contribution of background concentrations of chemicals. Results: The list of priority pollutants included inorganic dust containing 20–70 % SiO2, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon (soot), carbon monoxide, and inorganic dust containing < 20 % SiO2. The estimated maximum and mean concentrations of airborne pollutants during mine reclamation activities were not exceeded at any exposure point. Hazard indices for acute exposures to pollutants exceeded the acceptable level at three points located closer to the sources. Carcinogenic risks did not exceed the level of acceptable risk at any point. Total risks of chronic toxicity were 1.2 and 1.75 times higher than acceptable at two points. Hazard indices estimated with account for the background levels of pollutants were 1.448–2.603 times higher than the acceptable level at all exposure points. The carcinogenic risk assessed taking into account the background levels was found to be acceptable. The most affected (target) critical organs and systems were respiratory organs and blood. Total risks of chronic poisoning assessed with account for background concentrations of ambient air pollutants exceeded the acceptable level by 3.15–5.40 times at all points. Conclusions: Reclamation activities have no significant effect on ambient air quality and health of the population of Prokopyevsk. Total risks of chronic toxicity and hazard indices exceed acceptable levels in residential areas located close to the reclamation site. High hazard indices and total risks of chronic toxicity established at all exposure points taking into account background concentrations of contaminants, are determined by generally poor environmental conditions in the city with the intensively developing coal industry.

The paper assesses the risk to public health from atmospheric air pollution by stationary sources of a coal preparation plant located in the city of Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Region. To assess the risk, the volume of maximum permissible emissions of the enterprise was used, calculations of the maximum and average concentrations of pollutants were carried out at 30 design points using the EKOcenter-Standard program. Public health risks were determined in accordance with the «Guidelines for assessing the risk to public health from exposure to chemicals that pollute the environment.» Based on the determination of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic hazard indices, priority pollutants were identified: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and carbon (soot). The calculation of the maximum one-time and average concentrations of pollutants at the selected impact points showed that the maximum permissible concentrations were not exceeded. Hazard indices for acute and chronic inhalation exposures do not exceed the acceptable level both without background and with background. The total risk of chronic intoxication does not exceed the acceptable value without taking into account the background, but exceeds it, taking into account the background, by 3.06–3.15 times. According to the carcinogenic risk, no excess of the acceptable level was found. The present study showed that the coal preparation plant makes a certain contribution to air pollution in Novokuznetsk without causing significant damage to the health of the urban population. Exceeding the acceptable level of risk of chronic intoxication, taking into account the background exposure to pollutants at all points, can be explained by the general unfavorable environmental situation in the industrial city.

Introduction. Determining the relationship between the impact of environmental factors and the health status of the population based on the risk assessment methodology is an urgent problem of preventive hygiene. The city of Novokuznetsk in the Kemerovo region, which is a major center of the metallurgical and coal industry, is characterized by a particularly difficult environmental situation.The aim of the study is to assess the risk to population health from air pollution from the emissions of a coal-processing plant.Materials and methods. The work used the volume of maximum permissible emissions of the central processing plant “Abashevskaya”. Calculations of maximum and average annual concentrations of pollutants were performed using the “EcoCenter-Standard” program, based on “Methods for calculating the dispersion of emissions of harmful (polluting) substances in the air”. Population health risks were calculated in accordance with the “Guidelines for assessing public health risks from exposure to chemicals that pollute the environment”. The resulting risk values were compared with acceptable values. Also, the values of risk levels were determined considering background concentrations.Results. Priority pollutants were identified: nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon (soot), inorganic dust with a SiO2 content of less than 20%, inorganic dust with a SiO2 content of 20–70%, benzene, manganese and its compounds. The maximum and average concentrations of pollutants were determined and the MPC exceeded at the selected calculation points. It was found that the risk levels of immediate action are zero. The risk levels of chronic intoxication range from 3×10–8 (manganese and its compounds) to 0.003 (inorganic dust with a SiO2 content of less than 20%). The highest total level of risks of chronic intoxication (0.006) is observed in the Baidaevka district. This is due to the location of pollution sources. The highest hazard indexes are also observed in the neighborhood Baidaevka. The hazard coefficients for all substances do not exceed “1”, which indicates that the population is not significantly likely to develop harmful effects with daily intake of the substance during life, and such an impact is acceptable. According to the data obtained, soot and benzene as carcinogenic substances do not pose a danger. The total values of the risks of immediate action, chronic intoxication and carcinogenic risk do not exceed the acceptable level. The total values of the risks of chronic intoxication, taking into account background concentrations, exceed the acceptable level by 2.9–4.1 times.Conclusion. Emissions from the coal-processing plant contribute to air pollution in the city, without significantly affecting the health of the population. The use of the risk assessment methodology is necessary to identify the most unfavorable areas of the city and pollutants that contribute most to the health of the population.The authors declare no conflict of interests.