Assessment of inhalation risk to population health in a coal mining industrial center

Introduction. The activities of coal enterprises have an adverse effect on the ecological balance, leading to the withdrawal of significant territories from agricultural lands, degradation of natural resources, and air pollution, which affects the health of the population.

The study aim was to assess the risk to public health in the case of chronic inhalation of air pollutants from stationary sources in a coal-mining city (using the example of the city of Prokopyevsk in the Kemerovo region).

Materials and methods. The work used data on gross emissions into the atmosphere of Prokopyevsk from stationary sources and average annual concentrations of pollutants in 2019–2023 from the official report. Maximum permissible concentrations of atmospheric pollutants for 2019–2020 were determined in accordance with GN 2.1.6.3492–17, for 2021–2023 – in according to the Sanitary Rules and Norms 1.2.3685–21. The risks to public health in case of chronic inhalation of toxicants were calculated on the base of the Guideline R 2.1.10.1920–04. The carcinogenic risk was assessed on the base of Guideline R 2.1.10.3968–23.

Results. The decrease in gross emissions of pollutants into the city’s atmosphere from 2019 to 2023 amounted to 6,456 thousand tons (or 32.6%). The maximum permissible concentrations of suspended solids were found to be exceeded by 1.2–2.2 times, as well as nitrogen dioxide by 1.1 times in 2023, benz(a)pyrene – by 1.2 times in 2019 and 1.3 times in 2022, carbon monoxide – by 1.2 times in 2021. The hazard coefficient for chronic inhalation exposure to suspended matter (3.8) corresponded to a high risk level in 2019 and an alarming level in 2020–2023 (2.4–1.8). Alarming risk levels were also identified for exposure to nitrogen dioxide, benzo(a)pyrene, and carbon monoxide. The hazard index in 2019 was 7.1 (high risk), while in 2020–2023, the hazard indices ranged from 4.7 to 5.4 (alarming level). The respiratory hazard indices (3.4–5.1), corresponding to the alarming risk level during 2019, 2021–2023, were determined by the influence of suspended solids, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide. The total individual carcinogenic risk was at an acceptable level.

Limitations were consisted of using official data on gross emissions and average annual concentrations of substances in the work.

Conclusion. The results of the assessment of health risks from exposure to atmospheric toxicants should be used to optimize management solutions to improve the environmental situation in the city.

Compliance with ethical standards. This study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Contribution:
Kislitsyna V.V. – concept and design of the study, literature review, writing the text, editing;
Surzhikov D.V. – writing the text, editing;
Likontseva Yu.S. – collection and processing of material;
Shtaiger V.A. – collection and processing of material.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship.

Received: December 27, 2024 / Revised: March 3, 2025 / Accepted: March 26, 2025 / Published: April 30, 2025

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