Introduction. The urgent task at hand is to establish a causal link between the occurrence of public health risks to the public and the impact of air pollution.
To ensure the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the public, it is important to consider the intake and distribution of pollutants in the atmosphere.
In addition to anthropogenic sources of pollution, it is also necessary to take into account natural sources.
The purpose of the work is to assess the influence of atmospheric pollution with formaldehyde and particulate matter on public health. Additionally, it aims to propose measures and recommendations to improve the environmental, health, and epidemiological well-being of the population.
Materials and methods. Quantitative chemical analyses of particulate matter (PM) and formaldehyde in atmospheric precipitation were performed using the gravimetric and fluorometric methods, respectively. The general trend of annual changes in the content of PM in the atmosphere is shown to be based on the results of a study of atmospheric precipitation and air. Data on morbidity in the population was obtained from annual government reports.
Results. A high correlation was found between general morbidity and atmospheric particulate matter for all population groups. However, formaldehyde was not found to be correlated with the general morbidity of the population, except for children, who may develop respiratory diseases under the influence of formaldehyde. Adults are the most vulnerable population to developing circulatory diseases, due to their high susceptibility to atmospheric particulate matter.
Limitations. The gradation of particulate matter into specific fractions (PM10, PM2.5) and <0.45 microns was not considered.
Conclusion. The level of formaldehyde in the air does not significantly impact the environment or the health of the general population. However, an increase in airborne particulate matter can create an unfavourable environmental condition that poses a threat to public health. Adult populations are particularly vulnerable to these conditions, as they have a high risk of developing cardiovascular system diseases that are highly dependent on the content of particulate matter in the air. To reduce this negative impact, a number of measures need to be implemented including expanding monitoring of atmospheric air quality to monitor particles with sizes of PM10, PM2.5, notifying the public about predictions of particulate matter concentrations; conducting in-depth scientific research on the biomedical impacts of particulate matter on human health.