Assessing Population Health Risks Posed by Air Pollution Related to Coal Mine Reclamation

Abstract

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.

Optimization of regulatory actions based on a differentiated approach to managing ambient air quality and health risks

“…Одним из важнейших элементов в этой области является установление норм и пределов выбросов загрязняющих веществ для промышленных предприятий, автотранспорта и других источников загрязнения атмосферы. Указом Президента Российской Федерации от 07.05.2018 № 204 «О национальных целях и стратегических задачах развития Российской Федерации на период до 2024 года», а также через реализацию национального проекта «Экология» и федерального проекта «Чистый воздух» были установлены целевые показатели, которые необходимо достичь в сфере снижения загрязнения атмосферного воздуха [1,2].…”

“…Для более эффективного контроля и сокращения выбросов вредных веществ в атмосферу с 01.01.2020 в России запущен эксперимент по квотированию выбросов промышленных предприятий, который планируется завершить к концу 2026 г. Эксперимент проводится в соответствии с Федеральным законом от 26.07.2019 № 195-ФЗ 1 , который предусматривает установление фиксированных квот выбросов для промышленных предприятий, а также механизмы и инструменты для контроля и соблюдения установленных ограничений. Цель эксперимента заключается в поиске оптимальных решений, способствующих снижению выбросов загрязняющих веществ в атмосферу, на основе сводных расчетов рассеивания и оценки риска здоровью, что является важным шагом в направлении устойчивого развития и охраны окружающей среды [3][4][5][6].…”

Optimization of regulatory actions based on a differentiated approach to managing ambient air quality and health risks

“…The RF President Order dated May 07, 2018 No. 204 On National Goals and Strategic Tasks of The Russian Federation Development for the Period up to 2024 and implementation of the Ecology National project and the Clean Air Federal project have established target levels, which are to be achieved by decreasing ambient air pollution [1,2].…”

“…To perform more effective control and reduce emissions of harmful chemicals into ambient air, an experiment on setting quotas for industrial emissions started on January 01, 2020 in Russia; it is planned to have been completed by the end of 2026. The experiment is being accomplished in accordance with the Federal Law issued on July 26, 2019 No 195-FZ 1 , which stipulates setting fixed quotas of emissions for industrial enterprises as well as mechanisms and instruments for control and adherence to established limitations. The aim of this experiment is to search for optimal solutions that facilitate reductions in pollutant emissions into ambient air based on aggregated calculations of dispersion and health risk assessment.…”

“…This wide-scale experimental approbation takes place for the first time in our country. It allows testing methods for modeling ambient air pollution and using their results in making __________________________ 1 O provedenii eksperimenta po kvotirovaniyu vybrosov zagryaznyayushchikh veshchestv i vnesenii izmenenii v otdel'nye zakonodatel'nye akty Rossiiskoi Federatsii v chasti snizheniya zagryazneniya atmosfernogo vozdukha: Federal'nyi zakon ot 26.07. specific targeted managerial decisions on development, control, and effectiveness of programs within the system for establishing safety standards, renewal of transport infrastructure and urban development in general. In future, these approaches and obtained results are planned to be used on other territories in the RF with high levels of ambient air pollution.…”